SMYLE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Silent magnetization transfer MRI for multiple sclerosis
IRAS ID
340109
Contact name
Tobias Wood
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study is funded by the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society. It aims to test a novel MRI scan which may aid the most vulnerable people living with MS especially.
Our scan is based on “ZTE” scanning: a novel, fast and silent MRI technique. Because of its quietness, ZTE was recently shown to be preferred by people with MS. The study will take place at the Centre For Neuroimaging Science (CNS) at King's College London.
The scan proposed in this project builds on ZTE scans tested before. In addition it performs imaging specifically of myelin. For this, we use a technique called magnetization transfer. The magnetization transfer effect is prevalent in myelin. It is detectable if an appropriate MRI scan is used. Thus we change the existing generic silent scan to perform myelin imaging.
We are confident that this scan can provide a quick, quiet image of myelin levels.
We aim to test two versions of the silent scans of myelin levels. The first one is a more established method of which we have improved the scan image quality. The second method has never been done in silent MRI scanning. It should give us a more accurate idea of the levels of myelin. The measured level of myelin should be closer to the true amount.
We aim to test our scan in the brain in 10 healthy volunteers and 15 people with MS. In the spinal cord, we want to test it in 15 people who have been diagnosed with MS in the spine. The scans are an hour each. We will collect feedback on the participant's experience of quiet scans.
REC name
London - West London & GTAC Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/PR/1338
Date of REC Opinion
6 Nov 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion