New horizons in clinical cardiac diffusion magnetic resonance imaging

Remodelling of the heart is characterised by changes in its size and shape. The more it remodels, the worse the likely outcome for patients with heart disease. The mechanisms underlying remodelling are not known, but changes in the microstructure of the heart muscle are important. Cardiac diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (cDMRI) can measure this microstructure, but despite ongoing developments, it is not yet used for clinical management. This is due to technical challenges and limitations in MRI scanner hardware, particularly gradient strength. The Human Connectome Project, designed to provide unparalleled assessment of the brain, developed highly-specialised MRI scanners with gradients four times stronger than those available on clinical scanners. This technology has never been used for other parts of the body. 

Our project combines leading expertise in cDMRI and microstructural imaging with access to one of only three such scanners worldwide, to develop next generation assessments of human hearts.