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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/T22858/01
Title: Multiple-fibre reconstruction in diffusion MRI
Principal Investigator: Alexander, Professor D
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Department: Computer Science
Organisation: UCL
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 11 April 2005 Ends: 10 April 2008 Value (£): 290,995
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Biomedical neuroscience Image & Vision Computing
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Healthcare Information Technologies
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Summary on Grant Application Form
This work will develop anew generation of computer program for processing diffusion MRI scans of the brain. Diffusion MRI measures the random thermal movement (diffusion) of water molecules in brain tissue. White matter in the brain consists of bundles of axon fibres and is the electrical cabling that connects different brain regions. Water molecules move further along the fibres than across them, because they cannot pass through the fibre walls. Computer programs that process diffusion MRI measurements estimate the direction of fibres at each position in the brain by looking for directions in which water molecules move furthest. Once the fibre directions are known, we can follow them from point to point through the brain and map the connectivity between regions. Connectivity maps like this have opened new doors to the understanding of brain architecture, development and disease. Diffusion-tensor MRI is the program used routinely in diffusion MRI. This program estimates only a single fibre direction at each point. However, brain tissue is complex and fibres cross in many important areas. The new programs we will develop will reveal the directions of multiple crossing fibres. This extra information will greatly improve the quality of our connectivity maps and provide greater insight into the workings of the brain.
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