Magnetic Resonance Methodology
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) are powerful and versatile tools for non-invasive investigation and clinical diagnostics, which we use in close collaboration with clinical partners in prospective studies across organs including brain, kidney, muscle, liver, and heart. We develop novel methodologies tailored to specific research and clinical needs, enabling the quantitative, metabolic and functional assessment of physiological and pathological processes and their underlying mechanisms in situ. A special research focus is the development of multinuclear (x-nuclei) MR methods to expand metabolic imaging beyond proton-based techniques. In parallel, emphasis is placed on high-resolution (HR-) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), including magic angle spinning (HR-MAS), of biopsies, cell cultures, and body fluids, providing detailed metabolic profiling that complements and extends in vivo investigations.
In Vivo MR Imaging and Spectroscopy (3T and 7T)
- Development of quantitative and functional MR methods for clinical 3T and 7T MR scanners
- Development of quantitative MRI prototypes in collaboration with Siemens Healthineers
- Multinuclear MR spectroscopy (²H, ¹³C, ³¹P, ³⁹K) for metabolic studies in brain, muscle, abdominal organs, and heart transplant models
- Non-invasive investigation of metabolic processes, including low-concentration metabolites and exchange dynamics
- Clinical and translational studies in liver and kidney disease, diabetes, and transplantation
- Longitudinal monitoring of disease progression and treatment response
- MR spectroscopic investigations into microstructure (diffusion-weighted MRS, signal visibility, orientation dependent effects)
- Processing and modelling methods for MR spectroscopy data
Ex Vivo NMR and Metabolomics (HR-NMR and HR-MAS)
- High-resolution NMR and HR-MAS of biofluids, biopsies, and cell cultures
- Metabolomic profiling to investigate cellular metabolism and disease mechanisms
- Real-time metabolic studies in living cells using an NMR-compatible bioreactor
- Integration with complementary techniques (e.g., mass spectrometry)
- Applications in metabolic disorders and transplantation research
Infrastructure
The group is affiliated with the Department of Neuroradiology and the DBMR and is located with offices in the sitem-insel building. We are embedded in the Translational Imaging Center (TIC). The TIC is equipped with a high-end 3T MR scanner (MAGNETOM Prisma), but also one of the worldwide few clinical 7T whole body MR scanners (MAGNETOM Terra).
HR-NMR spectroscopy is now well established at the Inselspital and works closely with mass spectrometry as part of a metabolic profiling platform. A state-of-the-art 500 MHz AVANCE NEO NMR spectrometer is available, located directly within the Clinical Chemistry Department. The NMR spectrometer is complemented by a new broadband HR-MAS probe head that enables the automated NMR measurement of various nuclei in semi-solid samples.
This integrated approach bridges in vivo imaging and ex vivo metabolic profiling, enabling translational research from basic mechanisms to clinical application.
