About the project
Objective
This project aims to implement intrinsic MRE (I-MRE), a novel technique that does not require any extra hardware beyond an MRI scanner. Instead of the pump, it uses vascular pulsatility as the source of tissue movement. More specifically, A) we will adapt and test I-MRE techniques to acquire subtle brain tissue motion in MRI scanners; B) develop and validate machine learning and computational models to estimate mechanics from I-MRE data; C) inform traumatic brain injury (TBI) simulations with I-MRE.
Background
Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) in the brain is a new technique in which the mechanical properties of the brain tissue can be estimated non-invasively. Unfortunately, the standard MRE setting requires an expensive pneumatic pump and specialized software, hindering its use in most hospitals.
Cross-disciplinary collaboration
This project is creating a new multidisciplinary collaboration between three PIs with complementary expertise in understanding the biomechanical properties of the brain: Rodrigo Moreno’s group is an expert in magnetic resonance elastography. Zhou Zhou’s group’s expertise is in neuroimaging-informed finite-element simulation of brain biomechanics. Lisa Prahl Wittberg’s research is focused on computational fluid mechanics (CFD)blood flow dynamics using both experimental and numerical methods (computational fluid mechanics, CFD).
