Ultra fast non invasive imaging of temperature for application in gene therapy and tumor ablation

Objective

This proposal is centered around Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Guided Focused Ultrasound (FUS) and two of its medical applications, tumor ablation and gene therapy. FUS has been known to be very effective to heat tissue locally. However, problems with the localization and dosimetry of | thermal dose have prevented widespread use. MRI temperature imaging combined with anatomical MRI can help to overcome | these problems. The research will be centered around the development of ultrafast noninvasive temperature imaging in vivo and the design effective FUS within the MR magnet. | Two possible applications will be further investigated: | I) Application of high intensity FUS to destroy a tumor without damaging surrounding tissue. 2) Temporal and spatial control of expression of a therapeutic gene, sensitized to heat using the Heat Shock Protein prom | Thus, high local and temporal control of gene therapy can be achieved using controlled periods of local heat elevation.

Fields of science

• medical and health sciences › medical biotechnology › genetic engineering › gene therapy
• natural sciences › biological sciences › biochemistry › biomolecules › proteins
• engineering and technology › medical engineering › diagnostic imaging › magnetic resonance imaging
• natural sciences › physical sciences › acoustics › ultrasound

Programme(s)

• FP4-TMR - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of the training and mobility of researchers, 1994-1998

Topic(s)

• 0302 - Post-doctoral research training grants
• TP15 - Instrumentation and Applied Physics

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

RGI - Research grants (individual fellowships)

Coordinator

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE

Address

Rue Léo-saignat 146, Case 93
33076 Bordeaux
France

Participants (1)

Not available

Netherlands