This project will be led by Dr G. Shajan, an expert in radiofrequency (RF) coil engineering based in the Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology at University of Glasgow. Prior to this role, Dr Shajan was project leader at the Max Planck Institute and successfully designed several RF coils for ultra-high field (UHF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). He has designed coils for Siemens and world leading UHF imaging research centres, and most recently he developed a new dual-mode head coil now in use for advanced 7T imaging at the Imaging Centre of Excellence (ICE) in Glasgow[1]. That coil employs parallel transmit (pTx) technology to improve field homogeneity and image quality, however it was developed for intracranial imaging at 7T, and as such it is not suited for vascular imaging requiring extended coverage to the level of the major extracranial vessels in the neck.
Funding for the proposed project will enable Dr Shajan’s development of a novel head-and-neck coil optimised for 7T vascular imaging in patients with neurological conditions, elevating neurovascular MRI to a new level of detail that will progress mechanistic understanding of disease processes and treatment approaches in conditions such as stroke and cerebral small vessel disease. This technology development will complement the research capabilities at ICE, where UHF clinical neuroimaging uniquely benefits from its location adjacent to Glasgow’s Institute of Neurological Sciences. Prof D. Porter will contribute MRI physics expertise to the RF coil design requirements, and collaborators ensuring this project meets specific clinical needs are Prof K. Muir, who specialises in clinical applications of advanced brain imaging, and Dr N. Fullerton, who has driven local interest in 7T MRI advantages for clinical neuroradiology.
The Neurosciences Foundation has agreed to provide £12,100 to support this project.
