# TR&D 2: Quantitative multi-contrast MRI at 3T and 7T.

> **NIH NIH P41** · HUGO W. MOSER RES INST KENNEDY KRIEGER · 2020 · $182,592

## Abstract

TR&D 2.
Quantitative multi-contrast MRI at 3T and 7T.
 Principal investigators:
 Peter C.M. van Zijl, Professor of Radiology
Hanzhang Lu, Associate Professor of Radiology
SUMMARY
The discovery of tissue biomarkers that can provide early and more specific information regarding
physiological or metabolic changes can be seen as the holy grail of clinical imaging. The availability
of such biomarkers is one of the main issues that we are continuously being inquired about by our
collaborative projects (CPs), which study such topics as autism spectum disorder (ASD), pediatric
brain development, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Alzheimer's Disease (AD),
Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Huntington's Disease (HD), Schizophrenia (SCZ), and brain tumors. Our
overall goal is therefore to develop MRI methodologies at 3T and 7T that can provide the quantitative
biomarkers needed by our CPs.
Towards this goal, AIM 1 is focused on the development of exchange transfer imaging (ETI) of the
brain. Based originally on chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI, which uses pulse
sequences similar to conventional magnetization transfer MRI, ETI is broader as it allows the
assessment of tissue metabolites that contain exchangeable protons using not only radiofrequency
saturation, but instead pulsed excitation sequences that can be used to edit out specific tissue
components based on their exchange rate or transverse relaxation time. In addition, we will exploit
multi-transmit capabilities of the scanner to avoid amplifier duty cycle limitations on the human
scanners. In AIM 2, we will develop methods to determine quantitative magnetic susceptibilities of
tissue independent of the orientation of the brain. The purpose of Aim 3 is to design technology that
allows assessment of both relative (changes in) and absolute arterial and arteriolar cerebral blood
volume (CBVa), venous cerebral blood volume (CBVv), and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen
metabolism (CMRO2).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9997694
- **Project number:** 5P41EB015909-20
- **Recipient organization:** HUGO W. MOSER RES INST KENNEDY KRIEGER
- **Principal Investigator:** Peter CM Van Zijl
- **Activity code:** P41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $182,592
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2000-07-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9997694

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9997694, TR&D 2: Quantitative multi-contrast MRI at 3T and 7T. (5P41EB015909-20). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9997694. Licensed CC0.

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