Optimization for diffusion MRI
Diffusion MRI (dMRI) is a useful probe of tissue microstructure, which can be used to derive biomarkers for diagnostics and treatment. Diffusion measurements using continuous gradient waveforms significantly expand the capabilities of conventional diffusion MRI [J6]. However, implementing them on real-world MR scanners is challenging due to the plethora of constraints imposed by hardware limitations and physiology.
Contributions
In collaboration with Filip Szczepankiewicz and others, we’ve developed the open-source library NOW that has established itself as the de facto standard tool for gradient waveform design for tensor-valued encoding in diffusion MRI. Since its introduction in 2015 [J1], the methodology and software has been extended and refined to capture additional effects, including Maxwell compensation [J3], motion compensation [J4] and cross-term compensation [J5]. We have also demonstrated that NOW enables diffusional variance decomposition (DIVIDE) on clinical MRI systems [J2].