Descrizione del progetto
Unire la metabolomica alla risonanza magnetica per studiare la biologia umana nell’intero organismo
Il progetto NICI, finanziato dall’UE, introdurrà un approccio innovativo allo studio della biologia umana utilizzando l’imaging chimico non invasivo (NICI, non-invasive chemistry imaging). Lo sviluppo della risonanza magnetica per immagini (RMI) inteso a rilevare i biomarcatori metabolici recentemente scoperti consentirà la mappatura dinamica dei processi biochimici nell’intero organismo. Utilizzando organoidi 3D co-coltivati come modelli per gli organi umani, il progetto svilupperà una nuova metodologia nonché una piattaforma che integra scanner 7T MRI e approcci di acquisizione di dati associati per creare un sistema di imaging biochimico 3D. L’approccio dinamico di imaging chimico 3D e il suo valore predittivo e prognostico saranno convalidati nella strategia di stratificazione per i pazienti affetti da metastasi epatiche del cancro gastrointestinale.
Obiettivo
The NICI project’s ambition is to lay the foundations of a new area of research: the study of human biology using non-invasive chemistry imaging. For this, NICI aims to unite two areas of research: metabolomics and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Metabolomics studies body functions through the measurement of metabolites; MRI, is able to provide 3D images of the body. By advancing MRI so that it can detect metabolic biomarkers and by discovering powerful new MRI-visible biomarkers, a non-invasive technology can be developed for dynamically mapping biochemical processes in the whole human body.
Vision: This new non-invasive technology for imaging biochemical processes in the human body will open a new and effective window for understanding human biology, diseases and their treatment.
Breakthroughs: I. Methodology for the discovery of discriminative biomarkers and II. Technological platform for full body biochemical imaging.
Novelty: Enabling a paradigm shift from morphologic imaging to biochemical understanding.
Foundational: Establishing the basis for a new research area, the study of human biochemistry using non-invasive biochemical imaging.
High-risk: i) The exact mechanisms of diseases are largely unknown and ii) Measuring specific metabolites is challenging.
Interdisciplinary: Bringing together physicists, biologists, chemists and clinicians.
The NICI project will develop a new methodology for the in vitro discovery of discriminant biomarkers using co-cultured 3D organoids as models for human organs. In addition, the project will develop a measurement platform, integrated with 7T MRI scanners and associated data acquisition approaches to adapt these MRI scanners into 3D biochemical imaging systems. NICI will validate the dynamic 3D chemical imaging approach and its predictive and prognostic value by researching a stratification strategy for patients with liver metastasis of gastrointestinal cancer. (This is one out of many possible applications.)
Campo scientifico
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineinternal medicine
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncology
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinepaediatrics
- engineering and technologymedical engineeringdiagnostic imagingmagnetic resonance imaging
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesmicrotechnologymolecular engineering
Programma(i)
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Vedi altri progetti per questo bandoBando secondario
H2020-FETOPEN-1-2016-2017
Meccanismo di finanziamento
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinatore
3584 CX Utrecht
Paesi Bassi