Neuroinflammation
Research focus Neuroinflammation
The neuroinflammation research focus, which is led by Christophe Arendt, MD, is dedicated to the study of quantitative MR imaging techniques focusing on the detection of microstructural and metabolic changes in the brain of patients with neuroinflammatory disorders including the spectrum of autoimmune (e.g. multiple sclerosis), infectious (e.g. COVID-19) and psychiatric (e.g. schizophrenia) diseases. The aim of these studies is to unravel diffuse alterations of the nervous system that are not detectable by conventional MR and to correlate these imaging biomarkers with neurological, neuropsychological, psychiatric and laboratory tests and disease prognosis. Validation and translation of these techniques are essential for better understanding and treatment of inflammatory processes involving the nervous system. Until 2021, Christophe Arendt was involved in quantitative research of the heart in cardiovascular diseases and also focused on novel techniques in order to reduce contrast media and radiation for patients – gained insights that shall be transferred to neuroimaging.
Methods
Quantitative analyses of parameters from:
T1 and T2 relaxometry (qT1 & qT2)
Diffusor Tensor Imaging (DTI)
Dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging (DCE)
Chemical shift imaging (CSI)
Chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging (CEST)