Medical Physics Seminar – Monday, September 30, 2019
Natural Abundance to Hyperpolarization: In-Vivo X-Nuclei Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Imaging
Paul Begovatz (Hosted by Sean Fain and Tim Hall)
Postdoc - Multi-Nuclear MRI/MRS
Since the beginning of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the investigation of exotic nuclei (X-Nuclei) has been used to provide vital non-invasive, non-radioactive, information on human physiology and metabolism. Although suffering from a lower natural abundance and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sensitivity, early X-Nuclei studies were able to accurately detect and quantify metabolites in humans, albeit with relatively longer scan times. More recently, advances in hyperpolarization techniques and ultra-high >3T MRI field strengths has increased the SNR of X-Nuclei studies; which has allowed for shorter scan times at higher resolution, expanded the ability to investigate further nuclei, and obtain additional non-invasive information in human metabolism and disease.