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A Device For Simultaneous Continuous Acquisition Of EEG And MRI
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$179,401.00
Summary
We aim to further develop a world-leading method we invented that facilitates the simultaneous, continuous acquisition of the electroencephalogram (EEG - electrical brain waves measured at the scalp) and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI - images the location of brain activity throughout the brain). Combining the two permits non-invasive imaging of human brain function with the exquisite temporal resolution of EEG and the high spatial resolution and brain coverage afforded by fMRI.
Translation Of MRS For Determining Human Pathology Into The Clinic: Acceptance Testing For Breast, Prostate And Barrett'
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$160,000.00
Summary
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), for many organs, provides the pathological diagnosis with an accuracy approaching 100%. In the case of breast lesions, it discriminates accurately between benign and malignant and, for overt carcinomas, predicts the status of the regional lymph nodes without the need to biopsy the node. For some lesions, such as Barrett’s oesophagus, distinction between dysplasia’s of no immediate concern to the patient and those apparently committed to early progression to ....Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), for many organs, provides the pathological diagnosis with an accuracy approaching 100%. In the case of breast lesions, it discriminates accurately between benign and malignant and, for overt carcinomas, predicts the status of the regional lymph nodes without the need to biopsy the node. For some lesions, such as Barrett’s oesophagus, distinction between dysplasia’s of no immediate concern to the patient and those apparently committed to early progression to clinical cancer, can be made by the MRS method. A statistical classification method, (SCS) has been developed whereby there are now mathematical classifiers available for the testing acceptance of the method in the clinical setting. Acceptance testing of MRS technology, with the mathematical classifiers integrated in the automated software, for the pathology and prognosis from a biopsy specimen in: · Breast clinic (Dr Malycha, Royal Adelaide) for both pathology and nodal involvement from fine needle aspiration biopsy · Gastrointestinal clinic (Dr Falk. Strathfield Private) for Barrett’s oesophagus · Urology clinic (Dr Katelaris, Sydney Adventist Hospital) for prostate.Read moreRead less
Non-invasive Measurement And Imaging Of Hepatic Iron Concentrations Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$341,210.00
Summary
Iron overload diseases such as genetic haemochromatosis and thalassaemia affect up to 0.5% of the world's population. These diseases result in deposition of dangerously high concentrations of iron in tissues of the body. Organs such as the liver and heart are at particular risk of being damaged. In order to manage a patient's condition optimally, a knowledge of their tissue iron concentrations is required. Currently the most direct and reliable way of achieving this is to remove a small sample o ....Iron overload diseases such as genetic haemochromatosis and thalassaemia affect up to 0.5% of the world's population. These diseases result in deposition of dangerously high concentrations of iron in tissues of the body. Organs such as the liver and heart are at particular risk of being damaged. In order to manage a patient's condition optimally, a knowledge of their tissue iron concentrations is required. Currently the most direct and reliable way of achieving this is to remove a small sample of the patient's liver for chemical analysis. Apart from the fact that the procedure is unpleasant and carries some risk, the measurement made by this method has some uncertainty because the liver iron concentration can vary significantly from place to place within the liver. The aim of this project is to test the validity of a new non-invasive method of measuring and imaging the liver iron concentrations of a patient. In addition, the potential to use the new technology for detecting and imaging liver cirrhosis in iron overloaded patients will be evaluated. If successful, the project may lead to a more accurate method of measuring tissue iron concentrations and eliminate the need for invasive procedures.Read moreRead less
Development Of Platelet-Targeted Nanoparticles For Magnetic Resonance Imaging Towards The Detection Of Thrombi/Emboli And Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaques
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$606,524.00
Summary
Heart attack, stroke and pulmonary embolism typically strike without warning and either kill patients or cause devastating disabilities. Currently, we do not have diagnostic methods to identify patients and the blood vessels at risk. We have developed a new innovative MRI nanoparticle directed against activated platelets for the detection of _at risk� blood vessels. The current funding is requested to optimise the manufacture of this targeted MRI nanoparticle and to undertake the animal studies ....Heart attack, stroke and pulmonary embolism typically strike without warning and either kill patients or cause devastating disabilities. Currently, we do not have diagnostic methods to identify patients and the blood vessels at risk. We have developed a new innovative MRI nanoparticle directed against activated platelets for the detection of _at risk� blood vessels. The current funding is requested to optimise the manufacture of this targeted MRI nanoparticle and to undertake the animal studies required to enter early stage clinical trials.Read moreRead less
Rapid, Cost-effective, Diagnosis And Monitoring Of Multiple Sclerosis By Novel Multifocal Evoked Potential Methods
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$152,463.00
Summary
A new technology for concurrently stimulating both eyes, and recording thousands of responses from the brain, will be tested for its effectiveness in diagnosing and tracking progression in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and the degree to which it complements Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Our understanding of MS has changed in recent years. It is now recognised to have two phases: an initial inflammatory phase, and a secondary progressive phase. The progressive phase produces the inexorable increas ....A new technology for concurrently stimulating both eyes, and recording thousands of responses from the brain, will be tested for its effectiveness in diagnosing and tracking progression in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and the degree to which it complements Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Our understanding of MS has changed in recent years. It is now recognised to have two phases: an initial inflammatory phase, and a secondary progressive phase. The progressive phase produces the inexorable increasing disability of MS. MS only affects about 0.04% of Australians but the early onset of MS, the high cost of medication, and the prolonged period of disability, mean that the cost to Australia is about $2 billion pa. MRI quantifies the inflammatory phase well but is poorly correlated with the debilitating secondary progression. The common treatments for MS target the inflammatory phase but not the causes of secondary progression, which are unknown. Current diagnostic methods mean diagnosis can take years, meaning that patients can be denied treatment for some time. The applicants have published experiments on 50 MS patients and 27 normal subjects using a variant of the new method. Not only has it shown high diagnostic accuracy, but the new method seems to provide data on the progressive phase, suggesting strongly that it is complementary to MRI. The new method is also much cheaper to set up and run than MRI and so could provide cost-effective means for monitoring patient condition and testing new drugs that are effective against the progressive phase. The applicants have considerable experience commercialising diagnostic technologies, and are currently working with an Australian company developing new diagnostic hardware. That hardware has been adapted to perform the presently proposed experiments. Overall it is reasonable to assume that positive outcomes will be translated into economic and health benefits for Australians.Read moreRead less
Novel Single-chain Antibody-targeted Nanoparticles For Diagnosis Of Vascular Diseases In Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$460,797.00
Summary
The aim of this project is to develop targeted imaging agents that seek out specific markers for various states of cardiovascular disease. These agents would provide a method for detecting the presence and level of atherosclerosis and thrombotic events. The targeted nanoparticles may provide a unique opportunity to detect very early plaques, the vulnerability of existing plaques and difficult to diagnose vessel blockages such as pulmonary embolism.