Dr J Matthews, Prof T Cootes
Applications accepted all year round
About the Project
Recently developed simultaneous PET-MR scanners1 have a number of potential advantages in clinical research and practice such as: reductions in radioactive doses; and the co-localisation with anatomical images with good soft tissue contrast. However, correction for photon attenuation is challenging both from matter within the patient’s body and from receivers coils placed within scanners2. Specifically flexible coils are a particularly challenge as the spatial location of these coils is not imaged with conventional MR sequences. The project would employ and optimise the use of new ZTE sequences3 to image components within a number of different flexible coils. Deformation models of these flexible coils will be developed using methods such as statistical shape modelling. This will then be used together with measured coils attenuation maps from CT scans, to develop methods for accurate coil attenuation correction in PET-MR. The benefit of accurate attenuation correction will then be evaluated using datasets from a number of funded and future studies on the PET-MR being set up at Central Manchester Foundation Trust. In particular the methods will be of interest for the use of flexible carotid coils and upper anterior arrays used in lung imaging, enabling accurate quantification of PET radiotracers for inflammation and hypoxia, whilst combining this data with novel functional MRI methods such as oxygen enhanced MR, and anatomical soft tissue delineation. Lung imaging is also extremely challenging due to susceptibility artefacts for which ZTE may offer advantages over existing methods.
The PhD will suit an applicant with a background in mathematics, physics, or engineering (or related discipline), but will require knowledge outside of this core expertise to be developed. In particular knowledge and proficiency in imaging science and specifically around PET and MR scanning will be needed. Knowledge of selected application areas will also be required. The successful candidate will be able to attend: a number of local M.Sc. units such as the units in Advanced PET and Advanced MR; external training courses such as courses in PET-MR; and numerous local seminars and events within imaging sciences. The Ph.D. will prepare a candidate for future research in imaging sciences, either within academia or within industry.
http://research.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/imaging/
This is a potential studentship to be funded via the MRC Doctoral Training Programme. Projects under this scheme are competitively funded; i.e. there are more projects advertised than available.
Funding Notes
Please make direct contact with the Principal Supervisor to arrange to discuss the project and submit an online application form as soon as possible. There is no set closing date; projects will be removed as soon as they are filled.
Applications are invited from UK/EU nationals. Candidates from outside of the UK must have resided in the UK for 3 years prior to commencing the PhD in order to be eligible to apply. Applicants must have obtained, or be about to obtain, at least an upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject.
References
1) Levin C.S. et al. IEEE Trans Med Imag. 35(8):1907-14 (2016)
2) Mehranian A, Arabi H, Zaidi H. Medical Physics. 43(3):1130-55 (2016)
3) Sekine T. et al. J Nucl Med. 57(12):1927-1932 (2016)
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