Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy of Laser-Polarized Noble Gases for Biomedical, Geophysics and Materials Science Investigations (Collaborative Research)

Information

• NSF Award
• 9617342

Owner

• The Brigham & Women's Hospital, Inc.

• Award Id

  9617342

• Award Effective Date

  9/15/1996 - 27 years ago

• Award Expiration Date

  8/31/2000 - 23 years ago

• Award Amount

  $ 516,766.00

• Award Instrument

  Standard Grant

9617342 Albert The emerging technology of the magnetic resonance of laser- polarized noble gases helium and xenon (3He and 129Xe) will be used in a three year program of biomedical, geophysics, and materials science investigations. A multi-institutional and multidisciplinary investigation will be conducted jointly by researchers at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, Massachusetts and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. A subaward will support materials research at the North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina; another will provide support to Boston University for biomedical engineering studies associated with the project. Potential biomedical applications include the characterization of lipid membrane integrity (e.g. in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis); improved in vivo lung imaging (important for early tumor detection); and better measurement of blood flow to tissue (important for stroke and ischemia diagnosis). In geophysics and materials science, magnetic resonance measurements of laser- polarized noble gas may improve the understanding of the connectivity of pores in rocks, the structure, evolution, and theology of foams and emulsions; and the diffusion of gases through liquid crystalline polymer films. Specific aims of the proposed research using laser-polarized noble gas magnetic resonance are: I) perform biomedical studies of noble gas magnetic resonance imaging as a new tool for human disease diagnosis and research; ii) investigate the connectivity of pores in reservoir rocks; iii) investigate the structure and evolution of model foams and emulsions; iv) investigate the rheology of model foams and emulsions under stress or strain; v) investigate defects in liquid crystalline polymer films; vi) train graduate and undergraduate students as multidisciplinary researchers; and, vii) develop a computer-simulation teaching module for use by undergraduate and high school students to investigate ho w basic principles of physics are applied to lasers and magnetic resonance to yield serendipitous applications in biology, medicine, geology, and materials. ***

• Program Officer

  Janice M. Jenkins

• Min Amd Letter Date

  9/11/1996 - 27 years ago

• Max Amd Letter Date

  8/18/1999 - 24 years ago

• ARRA Amount

• Name

  Brigham & Women's Hospital Inc

• City

  Boston

• State

  MA

• Country

  United States

• Address

  75 Francis Street

• Postal Code

  021156110

• Phone Number

  8572821670

• First Name

  Mitchell

• Last Name

  Albert

• Email Address

  mitchell.albert@umassmed.edu

• Start Date

  9/11/1996 12:00:00 AM

• First Name

  Samuel

• Last Name

  Patz

• Email Address

  patz@bwh.harvard.edu

• Start Date

  9/11/1996 12:00:00 AM

• First Name

  Daniel

• Last Name

  Williamson

• Email Address

  danw@bwh.harvard.edu

• Start Date

  9/11/1996 12:00:00 AM

• Name

  Health

• Code

  203000

• Name

  Engineering NEC

• Code

  59

• Text

  BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

• Code

  5345

• Text

  ELECT, PHOTONICS, & MAG DEVICE

• Code

  1517

• Text

  OFFICE OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY AC

• Code

  1253

• Text

  INSTRUMENTAT & INSTRUMENT DEVP

• Code

  1108

• Text

  UNASSIGNED

• Code

  0

• Text

  OTHER RESEARCH OR EDUCATION

• Text

  BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

• Code

  5345

• Text

  OFFICE OF MULTIDISCIP ACT-RESEARCH

• Code

  1022

• Text

  MULTID RSCH IN OPTI SCI & ENGI

• Text

  SUPPL FOR UNDERGRAD RES ASSIST

• Code

  9231