Locally developed 7T MRI coil used in innovative study on motor neuron disease (MND)
Published: 16 August 2024
A new head-and-neck radiofrequency (RF) coil developed at ICE is set to provide new insights into the potential use of 7T MRI scanning for diagnosis and monitoring of motor neuron disease (MND).
A new head-and-neck radiofrequency (RF) coil, which has been developed at ICE as part of the University of Glasgow-led Living Laboratory for Precision Medicine programme, is set to provide new insights into the potential use of 7T MRI scanning for diagnosis and monitoring of motor neuron disease (MND).
The innovative study is funded by leading Scottish charity MND Scotland, working with Glasgow-based medical research charity The Neurosciences Foundation. It aims to explore the capabilities of the head-and-neck coil, which has been developed at ICE by Dr Shajan Gunamony with funding from The Neurosciences Foundation, in conjunction with ultra-high-resolution 7T MRI technology for diagnosing and monitoring the condition.
7T MRI is more sensitive and provides a higher resolution image than the 1.5T and 3T machines routinely used in hospitals, allowing scientists and clinicians to study the body in greater detail than ever before. When combined with the new head-and-neck coil, it will provide high-resolution images of the brainstem and upper spinal cord.
Based at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow, Professor Natasha Fullerton, Professor David Porter and Dr George Gorrie will use the 7T MRI scanner in ICE to test the head-and-neck coil for use in the identification of patterns of biomarkers in the brains of patients with MND.
The hope is that these biomarkers can be correlated with specific subtypes of MND, which could open the door to earlier diagnosis of the condition and more effective monitoring of responses to treatment. In doing this, the study aims to pave the way for new approaches that can improve outcomes for patients.
First published: 16 August 2024