UNC Neurology Researcher Dr. Ian Shih Receives a $2.4M NIH Grant to Improve Functional Brain Imaging Techniques!
Dr. Ian Shih, Professor and Vice Chair for Research at the UNC Department of Neurology, has been awarded a $2.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to transform functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) methods. Shih’s project aims to improve brain activity mapping using innovative imaging sampling scheme.
For nearly three decades, echo planar imaging (EPI) has been the standard fMRI technique for rapid whole brain scans, measuring blood oxygenation – a key brain activity indicator. However, it faces challenges like acoustic noise, motion artifacts, and limited sensitivity and specificity compared to other methods.
The Shih lab aims to develop a 3D brain-wide imaging method called Steady-state On-the-Ramp Detection of INduction-decay signal with Oversampling (SORDINO). This sequence could holds potential to address current fMRI issues while improving sensitivity and specificity.
The project’s objectives are to advance, validate, and introduce SORDINO to fMRI in experimental animals. The team will optimize imaging parameters, explore contrast mechanisms, and study SORDINO’s performance in awake mice.
The outcomes of this project could enhance fMRI technologies, leading to improved brain imaging methods and potential human applications in the future.