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Dynamic and multi-nuclear magnetic resonance imaging for the assessment of nutrient and drug delivery in the human gastrointestinal tract

Objective

Understanding the function of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and its relation to abdominal symptoms and digestion is of fundamental importance in clinical medicine. Existing techniques are not able to describe the integrated, regulated mechanism by which foods are digested and drugs are delivered to the bowel. It is for these reasons that the causes of abdominal symptoms often remain unclear and that oral therapies for systemic conditions complicated by GI dysfunction are ineffective. This project will develop and apply MRI technology to assess the flow, mixing and transit of nutrients and oral drugs through the GI tract. Dynamic 1H-MRI will provide a comprehensive assessment of GI function and be combined with novel 19F-MRI that follows the passage of GI contents. Results will be validated and extended by 13C breath testing. The primary objective is to develop multi-nuclear MRI for use in physiologic measurements of GI function (1H-MRI) and delivery of nutrients/drugs (19F-MRI). This includes the optimization of accelerated 3D 1H-MRI for detecting GI function in long bowel segments and 19F-MRI utilizing (nano-)capsules containing a stable fluorocarbon as an oral contrast agent. This technology will be applied in clinical studies of two important diseases to assess whether these developments provide novel insight into the mechanism of disease: (1) Diabetic Mellitus, to assess how gastroparesis leads to abnormal nutrient delivery and impaired glycaemic control. (2) Parkinson’s Disease, to assess how gastric dysfunction affects the delivery and absorption of levodopa and its efficacy for treatment of tremor and rigidity. This project will maintain the leading position of European researchers in MRI assessment of GI function, a technology that is likely to enter clinical practice in the next years. It will increase knowledge about the identification and management of GI complications in DM and PD, chronic diseases that are stated priorities of the FP7 work program.

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF
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Coordinator

University of Zurich
EU contribution
€ 180 470,80
Address
RAMISTRASSE 71
8006 ZURICH
Switzerland

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Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Administrative Contact
Heini Murer (Prof.)
Links
Total cost
No data