Ayaka Shinozaki

Many human diseases are associated with how the body turns the fuels we eat (e.g. sugars and fats) into energy needed for growth, movement and repair-- processes collectively called ‘metabolism’. Studying metabolism provides a vital way to understand disease mechanism and assess treatment response. However, the tools used to study metabolism in vivo are limited and new methods are required.

My project revolves around a novel in vivo approach for measuring metabolism, called Hyperpolarized Magnetic Resonance Imaging (HP-MRI). 13C-labelled tracers are injected in the body and the in vivo uptake can be followed non-invasively using MRI. Reading the signals emitted by the HP probes requires specific radiofrequency (RF) coils, which need to be optimised for the organ of interest (e.g. brain, heart) to maximise the recorded signal to ensure good image quality. In partnership with PulseTeq Ltd, a RF coil design company, I aim to develop novel RF coils specifically for HP-MRI to allow rapid clinical translation of this emerging medical imaging technology.