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Quantitative Neuro MRI
Fernando Calamante, Annemie Van der Linden, Organizers

Overview:
This four-hour course will discuss some of the most important recent advances in quantitative neuroimaging. There will be particular emphasis on the critical discussion of recent developments, the evaluation of the different methodologies, and the assessment of their role in basic and clinical science. Furthermore, it will review the selected fields as they currently stand.
 

Educational Objectives:
Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to:
· Discuss the latest advances in the field of arterial spin labeling, their current limitations, and identify their potential role in basic and clinical science;
· Demonstrate the role of MR methods to assess oxygen consumption non-invasively, and illustrate potential applications;
· Describe the various approaches to measure the arterial input function using dynamic-susceptibility contrast MRI, their limitations and implications to measure absolute cerebral blood flow; explain the latest advances of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI to measure non-perfusion parameters;
  • Recognize the limitations of the diffusion tensor model and identify more advanced methodologies to characterize areas with multiple fiber directions more accurately, as well as to describe the latest advances on fiber-tracking, including the concept of probabilistic tractography;
  • Apply statistical approaches to perform voxel-based analysis for group comparison, and
· Describe image analysis techniques to characterize brain deformation.
Audience Description:
This course is aimed not only at MR physicists and engineers, but also at (technically inclined) cerebral physiologists, neuroscientists, and neuro clinicians. In addition, it will be of particular value for graduate students and postdoctoral students in this research field.

Both new and experienced researchers and clinicians will find the course appropriate. While no prior knowledge of the methodology is required, it will also appeal to researchers, with prior experience in one of these techniques, who are interested in acquiring knowledge of complementary methods.

Program
Tuesday, 9 May
Latest Advances in Arterial Spin Labeling and
Oxygen Consumption Measurements
07:00 Latest Advances in Arterial Spin Labeling Eric C. Wong, M.D., Ph.D.
07:30 Measuring Oxygen Consumption Using MRI:  What Can and Cannot be Done Peter C.M. van Zijl, Ph.D.
Wednesday, 10 May
Dynamic Susceptibility-Contrast MRI
07:00 Quantification Issues in Bolus-Tracking Perfusion MRI Matthias J.P. van Osch, M.Sc.
07:30 Steady-State and First-Pass Contrast Agent Methods
to Evaluate CBV, Vascular Morphology and Permeability		 Kathleen M. Schmainda, Ph.D.
Thursday, 11 May
Diffusion MRI
07:00 Recent Advances to Resolve Multiple Fibers Using Diffusion MRI Jacques-Donald Tournier, M.Sc.
07:30 Recent Advances in Fiber Tracking Geoff J.M. Parker, Ph.D.
Friday, 12 May
Group Comparison and Longitudinal Studies
07:00 Voxel-Based Analyses Gareth J. Barker, Ph.D.
07:30 Techniques for Measuring Brain Deformation Derek L.G. Hill, Ph.D.