The 2022 Summer Edition of the CIBM Breakfast and Science Seminar series featured PhD students affiliated to CIBM founding partner institutions to present their research work.
Compartmentalized model of permeable cell tissue for microstructure estimation from DW-MRI signals
Rémy Gardier,
PhD student, EPFL
Abstract: Detecting cancerous tissue with non-invasive imaging techniques has undoubtedly the potential to increase patient comfort and speed up diagnosis. To this aim, the combination of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and biophysical models of tissue microstructure is a tool of choice to probe tissue microstructure beyond the voxel resolution limit. With this approach, the brain white matter has been characterized successfully under specific assumptions. However, the difference in biological properties between white matter and permeable tissue prevents us using the same biophysical models. A current limitation is that most of the proposed models are based on the assumption of negligible water exchange between the intracellular and extracellular compartments, which might not be valid in permeable tissues, including tumors. In this presentation, I will first detail our Monte-Carlo simulation framework for realistic DW-MRI signal generation. Next, I will introduce a novel compartmentalized model of tumor microstructure which includes exchange. Finally, I will present the results of this new model and widely used biophysical models neglecting exchange. Overall, our novel model can adequately characterizes tissue permeability and improves the robustness of the microstructure compartment volume estimates.
Supervisor: Jean-Philippe Thiran (CIBM SP CHUV-EPFL)
Perinatal brain damage: consequences of prematurity and birth asphyxia
Marion Décaillet,
PhD student, UNIL
Abstract: : A very-preterm birth is defined as a birth occurring before 32 gestational weeks. Perinatal asphyxia with encephalopathy is a condition caused by inadequate blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain. They represent respectively 10% and 0.15% of births worldwide and are both at risk to death and to cause adverse long-term neurodevelopmental sequelae. In this talk, I will present two multidisciplinary studies including behavioral, clinical, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging data. I will first discussed the long-term consequences of prematurity on executive functions and multisensory processing at school age. Secondly, I will present our current project
about perinatal asphyxia with encephalopathy. Our objective is to investigate brain integrity and function in neonates and children following neonatal encephalopathy, using multimodal neuro-assessment with brain MRI,
high-density EEG and neurological/neuropsychological assessment as well as echocardiography to allow better prognostication and individualization of follow-up and care.
Supervisors: Micah Murray (CIBM EEG CHUV-UNIL)
The monthly meet-up seminar series is a great environment to ask questions or to share insights on challenges and solutions. It’s also a good way to broaden and enrich professional networks.
Revisit past seminars and stay tuned for the exciting CIBM Breakfast and Science Seminar Series upcoming this year.