Robust and practical tools for imaging vascular reactivity in the brain

BBSRC : Colette Clare Milbourn : BB/M008770/1

Research: Vascular disease (problems with blood vessels) are a leading cause of death and disability. Stroke alone (blockage of blood vessels) is the 4th biggest killer globally (3rd in Canada), most disabling (2/3rd of survivors disabled) and costs society ~£26 billion a year in the UK. It can be hard to detect.

A brain that has vascular disease can appear healthy in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (brain scanner) images taken at rest. However, under stress the damaged blood vessels cannot always maintain a sufficient blood supply. You can identify these problems using a task that stresses the brain artificially, by asking a patient to breathe in carbon dioxide (CO2) mixed with air.

This signals the blood vessels in the brain to increase the blood flow. We aim to accurately measure this change in blood flow to provide new insight into vascular diseases of the brain. Quick, quantitative and robust values from MRI will provide clinicians with information for diagnosis.

Combining complementary MRI techniques from Nottingham (task, but more comparable across patients) and Toronto (no task, more patient friendly) will provide a practical diagnostic tool. The ultimate aim of this project is build towards a best of both worlds' technique for imaging blood flow change: quantitative, practical and comfortable.