CMIC Seminar: Compartment models and model selection for in-vivo diffusion-MRI of human brain white matter

Speaker: Uran Ferizi
UCL Contact: Dominique Drai (Visitors from outside UCL please email in advance).
Date/Time: 03 Sep 14, 12:00 - 13:00
Venue: 1.02

Abstract

Diffusion MRI microstructure imaging relies on mathematical models, relating microscopic tissue features to the MR signal. Multi-compartment models fit the signal better and enable the estimation of more specific indices, such as axon diameter and density.

This PhD work translates this analysis to in vivo human brain white matter. It updates the comparison framework and methodology by enriching the acquisition protocol, extending the model base and improving the model fitting.

In the first part of this thesis, the original fixed rat study is taken in vivo by using a live human subject on a clinical scanner. The second part considers models that explicitly seek to explain fibre dispersion, another potentially specific biomarker of neurological diseases. In the third part, high-gradient Connectom-Skyra data are used to assess the generalisability of earlier results derived from a standard Achieva scanner. The previous methodology was enhanced to specifically account for compartmental T2 and diffusivity.