Grant: Project Grant

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating condition typically beginning in young adulthood. Alberta has the highest reported rate of MS in the world and Canada has a high rate as well. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is heavily used in MS. MRI is a powerful tool for MS diagnosis, but it is less effective for tracking disease changes over time. We wish to develop ways to improve the ability of MRI to track MS progression in the brain by making the clinical images already in use more useful. Our objectives are to make advances in MRI analysis methods for measuring brain changes in MS using the existing MRI scans, so without taking any extra time. The methods will enable actual measurements of tissue damage, so clinicians can then track changes over time with numbers from the MRI scans and not just with visual readings. This field of MRI is called quantitative MRI. The new quantitative MRI methods provide an additional way to track tissue damage and may provide greater insight into the MS disease process, hence adding value to current clinical MRI for following MS progression. The methods are designed with computer simulations and modelling. Next the methods are tested in objects and healthy subjects, and then subjects with MS in a research setting. The numbers produced by the methods are compared to much slower MRI techniques that serve as gold standards. The methods will also be tested on different types of MRI machines to be sure they can be used universally. Lastly, the methods are translated into clinical research studies in order to monitor brain changes in MS subjects over time in comparison to healthy subjects. This research involves MRI physics, MS neurology, and neuroradiology with experts in each field. Together we will develop and test new MRI approaches to enable better tracking of MS disease progression.