The research focuses on using recent advancements in MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and biophysical modelling to create quantitative maps that directly measure brain myelination. Marques will create the software infrastructure to make these methods truly accessible to those running clinical studies.
What is white matter?
The brain is made up of grey matter and white matter. Grey matter processes information, while white matter is like the brain’s highway, connecting different areas. White matter is covered in a fatty substance called myelin, which helps signals travel quickly between different parts of the brain. Damage to myelin, such as in MS, can disrupt brain function. Dr. Marques’ research seeks to refine MRI techniques to measure changes more accurately, and “to make sure the values we measure are independent of the specific MR machine you are using because that is currently not the case”.
Applications in multiple sclerosis and beyond
In collaboration with industry partners involved in clinical trials (including MIAC, SBGneuro, Perspectum) and university hospitals (such as Radboud UMC, VU Amsterdam, Basel and MGH) the project will involve extensive testing of the refined MRI techniques in various diseases.
The first application of this research will be on multiple sclerosis and leukodystrophies, conditions characterized by damage to myelin in the brain's white matter. The ability to track demyelination and remyelination (the loss and repair of myelin) is essential for evaluating the effectiveness of new therapies. Conditions like neurovascular, neurodegenerative, and neuroinflammatory diseases are also areas where the research can provide crucial insights into the viability of brain tissue. Marques: "One of our goals is to develop imaging methods that are highly specific to white matter, allowing clinicians to detect tissue changes before they result in behavioural symptoms".
An important aspect of this project is its commitment to open science. The methods developed will be platform independent, allowing clinicians and researchers using any MRI vendor platform to have access to these measures as calibration tools of their systems. Furthermore, Dr. Marques emphasizes that the project aims to create open source and "user-friendly" software that translate the various brain images acquired, into interpretable biomarkers that account for site, age and gender. Within five years this which will facilitate its adoption and clinical applicability.