Project description DEENESFRITPL MRI contrast agents for brain diseases Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical technology that uses a magnetic field to create three-dimensional images of the structures inside the body. Despite being non-invasive, and as such, attractive for disease diagnosis, MRI suffers from poor resolution and low contrast, which render it unsuitable for studying brain diseases. Funded by the European Research Council, the MAGNIFICO project capitalises on a previously developed fluorescent-based solution that can be used for microscopy, computed tomography and MRI. This solution is expected to improve the capabilities of MRI and provide the opportunity to detect brain cells in vivo. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a non-damaging and non-invasive imaging modality, with the abilities to effortlessly image the entire brain at any depth. However, MRI provides images with low contrast and very poor resolution, and these are but an indirect description of features in the tissue (e.g. cells) because MRI images water protons. These aspects limit the use of MRI in pre-clinical research settings (e.g. biomedical research) to study brain diseases. Resultantly, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are constantly in search of novel methods that endow MRI with capabilities to distinguish defined biological targets for the study of brain diseases in animal models. Currently, there are no suitable solutions. We specifically address these shortcomings, and extend the capabilities of MRI, by developing an all-in-one solution. The solution consists of the synthesis of novel targeted fluorescent contrast agents suitable for light microscopy, computed tomography and MRI, and the parallel engineering of cells. When combined, cells in the brains of animals can be detected by MRI in vivo. Lastly, we provide a unique ex vivo protocol for validating the targets imaged by MRI in vivo. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopyengineering and technologymedical engineeringdiagnostic imagingmagnetic resonance imaging Programme(s) HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2022-POC2 - ERC PROOF OF CONCEPT GRANTS2 Call for proposal ERC-2022-POC2 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme HORIZON-AG-LS - HORIZON Lump Sum Grant Coordinator TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Net EU contribution € 150 000,00 Address Senate building technion city 32000 Haifa Israel See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
