Screening And Future Enhanced MRI

Project Information

SAFE-MRI

Grant agreement ID: 101087701

DOI

10.3030/101087701

EC signature date 24 April 2023

Start date 1 June 2023

End date 31 May 2028

Funded under

• European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

€ 2 984 796,00

EU contribution

€ 2 984 796,00

Coordinated by

STICHTING RADBOUD UNIVERSITAIR MEDISCH CENTRUM
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SAFE-MRI (Screening And Future Enhanced MRI)

Reporting period: 2023-06-01 to 2025-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

SAFE-MRI aims to prevent needless mortality from breast cancer by optimizing the use and performance of dedicated breast MRI. SAFE-MRI focusses particularly on the value of this technique for screening in younger women. SAFE-MRI further aims at improving breast MRI by reducing the need for contrast administration. This is a major downside of breast MRI - for women (iv-canulation and a small risk of allergic reactions) and the environment (pollution of surface water). We aim to enhance signal changes using a strongly reduced dose of contrast with advanced deep learning (DL). Further studies are tailored at assessment of unenhanced MRI. Particularly, we are validating novel diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) sequences capable of generating high resolution diagnostic images within short scan times using DL-based reconstruction. Furthermore, we investigate arterial spin labelling (ASL) based breast imaging strategies that show perfusion without the need for contrast administration. Finally, we will combine unenhanced MRI techniques in a general adversarial network to construct synthetic breast MRI images. Repeated reader studies are being designed to assess image quality and diagnostic value.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

SAFE-MRI is an hybrid project that consists of advanced MRI development for low- and no contrast breast MRI development, along with a prospective screening study in women aged 45. In this progress report we address the advances in the MRI development phase as these have yet led to tangible results. Particular successes have been achieved in the evaluation of new DL based DWI sequences and in the generation of synthetic MRI as described in more detail in the narrative progress report.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The key area where we are currently focussing is in the optimisation of synthetic MRI, as this has the potential to revolutionise the way we use MRI for screening by obviating the need for intravenous contrast administration. This may also have significant environmental benefits, as it would reduce the excretion of contrast media in waste water. (recently gadolinium was even shown to be present in beer...).