Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Dr Suzuki's award will support her work on robust visualisation of blood vessels in patients with vessel-narrowing disease

Yuriko Suzuki next to some images from her work

Yuriko Suzuki is developing a novel, completely non-invasive technique that enables visualising blood vessels and flows in patients with vessel-narrowing diseases in the brain, addressing limitations of Magnetic Resonance Angiography using Arterial Spin Labelling technique. She aims to provide an alternative to X-ray Angiography examination to reduce the burden on patients. 

Understanding the dynamics of arterial blood supply to the brain is crucial for diagnosing many cerebrovascular diseases. Currently, X-ray Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) is the standard examination that visualises the blood vessels and their flow, in which contrast dye is injected from the tip of a catheter tube inserted into the blood vessel. It provides essential diagnostic information: not only the detailed anatomical vessel structure, but also the dynamics of blood flow, such as flow speed and direction. Additionally, by placing the catheter close to the target vessel, only targeted vessels can be selectively visualised, clearly distinguished from other non-targeted vessels. However, X-ray DSA requires highly invasive procedures, including the use of ionising radiation. Also, the contrast dye could cause severe allergic shock and serious kidney problems in high-risk patients.

Arterial Spin Labelling (ASL) is a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technique, in which arterial blood itself is utilised as an endogenous tracer, thereby making ASL technique completely non-invasive. ASL can also visualise only an arterial vessel tree arising from a target artery, similar to X-ray DSA. Such advantageous feature of ASL technique makes ASL-based dynamic MR Angiography (MRA) a completely non-invasive, potential alternative to X-ray DSA, which could reduce the physical burden and risks for patients. However, there is a major difficulty in the clinical application of ASL-based dynamic-MRA in patients with vessel-narrowing, steno-occlusive diseases: it suffers from poorer vessel visualisation when blood flow is very slow, which is common in these patients.

With the support of the Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowships, Yuriko aims to address such limitations of the use of ASL-based dynamic-MRA in steno-occlusive diseases by utilising cross-disciplinary approach: MRI physics, image processing and machine learning. In the project, she aims to make the proposed technique even more suitable for patients with cerebrovascular diseases and bring a reliable diagnosis.

Read more on the Royal Academy of Engineering website.

 

Similar stories

European Platform for Neurodegenerative Diseases launches repository of cohorts for researchers

The new Cohort Catalogue will facilitate discovery of over 60 neurodegeneration research cohorts from 17 countries across Europe

Two NDCN students join BNA Scholars Programme

The British Neuroscience Association Scholars Programme was launched in 2021 with a view to improving equality, diversity and inclusion in neuroscience.

Researchers win UK Dementia Research Institute Grand Challenge Award to identify early signs of Alzheimer's

The MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit has received funding for a multi-year research partnership designed to advance the understanding of early changes to the operations of brain circuits in Alzheimer's disease.

Ophthalmology Conference in Kyiv

On 21 February, Robert MacLaren organised a one-day ophthalmology conference in Kyiv together with Dr Andrii Ruban, President of the Ukrainian Vitreoretinal Society.

Bioelectronic implant offers an intelligent therapy to treat incontinence

The first participants in a clinical trial of a bioelectrical therapy to treat incontinence have received their 'smart' bioelectronic implants.

Direct evidence of reduced NMDA receptors in people with form of encephalitis

NMDAR-antibody encephalitis is an autoimmune brain condition caused by patient’s own antibodies that bind to NMDA (N-Methyl-D-Aspartate) receptors in the synapses between nerve cells.