About the project
Objective
This project aims to implement intrinsic magnetic resonance elastography (I-MRE). 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).
