Quantification of Free and Bound Water Concentrations in Human Cortical Bone Employing Hybrid Hard-tissue MRI: Towards Comprehensive Osteoporosis Assessment

Project Information

ROCHESTER

Grant agreement ID: 898530

DOI

10.3030/898530

Project closed

EC signature date 17 April 2020

Start date 1 May 2021

End date 30 September 2023

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 224 933,76

EU contribution

€ 224 933,76

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ROCHESTER (Quantification of Free and Bound Water Concentrations in Human Cortical Bone Employing Hybrid Hard-tissue MRI: Towards Comprehensive Osteoporosis Assessment)

Reporting period: 2021-05-01 to 2023-04-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Specific Objectives:
1. Literature review on the cortical bone water:
• Extensive studies were carried out to understand role of MRI to detect cortical bone water in the assessment of cortical bone quality.

2. Novel methodologies to acquire cortical bone MRI:
• UTE sequences at 7T preclinical MRI (Bruker) were implemented and acquired:
Image #1
Image #2

3. Verification of the novel imaging method:
• Quantification was carried out to show if the new imaging method enables constructive signal for the measurement:
Image #3
Image #4
• Analysis of the new images were developed using new generation of deep learning techniques. Results are planned in two different categories:
i. T2-map (Variable TEs); Finding notion of the three proton pools,
ii. T1-map (Variable FAs); Finding notion of porosity-related signal changes / Relaxometry.
• Two different estimation schemes must are finalized for accurate parameter mapping
i. Mutual estimation of the three proton pool from 7T data (ways to consider minerals with MRI),
ii. QSM / phase quantification and mineralization data from uCT (uCT data to be acquired).

4. Clinical biomarker achieved:
• Multi sample acquisition and related data analysis to be carried out.

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

- Results
• main scientific and/or technological achievements:
• Results for data acquisition shows UTE-MRI is capable to move to the extent of all the proton pools ex-vivo,
• Progressive results on deep-learning analysis establishes a new line to estimate different cortical pool protons with enough accuracy for further studies,
• main innovation outputs (if applicable):
• Pushing the imaging technology to the level of mineral detection and quantification using MRI is novel and innovative, especially when targeting patient imaging in-vivo (to be completed in my next grants),
• Employing novel deep-learning techniques based on physics information and knowledge is innovative in this field.
• contribution to the state of the art
• Deep learning based analysis for cortical bone water quantification with simultaneous multi-compartmental imaging, detection and estimation.
• scientific and/or technological quality of the results
• Results show how the scientific concepts are neatly marched with the technological capabilities of the MRI machines used; meaning scientific predictions of the MR acquisitions for compartmental study and quantification are to be properly predicted by the actual imaging data and AI-based analysis.

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)

- Impact on the researcher's career: report on how the project enhanced the potential and future career prospects of the researcher. Please specify the next career step of the researcher.
• Attending a prestigious Horizon-EU grant has positive influence on my career. This grant made me the opportunity to extend academic and innovation relationships with great scientists of the field and UK/EU organizations. Next step is to fund a proposal to extend this work as advised above (preceded by pre-application support fund).
- Does the work carried out enhance innovation capacity, create new market opportunities, strengthen competitiveness and growth of companies, address issues related to climate change or the environment, address industrial and/or societal needs at regional level or bring other important benefits for society?
• Work carried out in this project is an initial phase of accurate human bone quality assessment and management systems, superior to what DXA offers to the healthcare in different ways: non-ionizing modality with excellent coverage to biological information embedded within the (human) cortical bone.
- Give information on the relevant innovation activities carried out (prototypes, testing activities, standards, clinical trials) and/or new products, services, reference materials, processes or methods (to be) launched to the market, if any.
• Finalized algorithms extracted from this work is the animal study phase of the laboratory-phase prototype of the system mentioned in the previous bullet.

- Does the work carried out contribute towards European policy objectives and strategies and/or have an impact on policy making?
• Techniques and methods proposed in this research project leads to new diagnostic medical devices with better efficacy and lower harm to the human body.

- Please identify potential users of the project results. Has there been suitable communication with interested parties?
• Bone epidemiologists, MSK Radiologists, (MR)Imaging Scientists, AI experts.

MR Imaging Parameters on 7T Scanner

Sample Image of Cortical Bone (3 Views) at 7T

Validation curve on the proposed acquistion technique (SNR)

Stabdard Sample Preparation Procedure