Next-generation diffusion MRI: Illuminating the black holes of the brain

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides us with many ways to image the brain without radiation or injections. One example is diffusion MRI, which allows us to generate images sensitive to the tiny random motions (diffusion) of water within and around cells. Many diseases change the environment where water diffuses. Diffusion MRI can detect this change, which we can use to assess brain health. Unfortunately, in many important brain regions the diffusion MRI signal disappears before we can make a measurement. These regions appear as dark 'black holes' in resulting images, preventing us from identifying disease-related changes. I will transform brain health assessment in these important brain regions, using a technique which rapidly captures the disappearing signal, 'steady-state diffusion'. Currently, steady-state diffusion suffers from a series of challenges, severely restricting its use in living people and image interpretability. I will overcome these challenges, and investigate its potential in assessing Parkinson?s disease.