Imaging dynamics of glioma metabolism via MRI

Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) is a powerful technique that is able to visualize the spatial distribution of biochemical compounds in the human brain. With a single MRSI examination multiple such biochemical compounds can be mapped. These biochemical compounds play fundamental roles in the functioning of the healthy brain as well as in brain disorders and are not accessible via conventional Magnetic resonance imaging methods. In this project we will develop an MRSI method that does not only rely on the detection on protons within metabolically active compounds, but we will specifically use harmless deuterium labeled substitutes (within this project labeled sugar in particular) of chemical compounds and observe their metabolic fate via MRSI. This could turn out to be a breakthrough technology in clinical cancer imaging, because cancer cells are known to have an extremely high sugar consumption, which is a very sensitive marker for successful cancer treatment.