A team of expert researchers worldwide London - funded health medical research action supported by WellChild, the national charity for sick children children's charity: has just started an innovative project to develop a new revolutionary way to take MRI analysis during pregnancy.
In theory, MRI analysis has the potential to identify brain damage in fetuses, but the movement of the baby during the scanning procedure seriously reduces the image quality.These researchers are developing a way to overcome the problems caused by the movement of babies, to provide higher quality images and improve diagnosis.
If successful, the research would that better equipped doctors to diagnose brain injury and anomalies in the fetos.La research are carried out by a team of experts at the center of Sciences Council (MRC) medical research in London, Hammersmith hospital and Imperial College London clinic specialist to receive £ 149,114 action, including a contribution of £ 50,000 WellChild medical research funding.
Professor Mary Rutherford, who is leading research, has been working in this field for 20 years, helping some of our newly born preterm and most vulnerable. He said that new analyses could facilitate the diagnosis of some brain injuries, possibly within just hours of them develop.
She said: "the research team has recently developed a new radical form the use of MRI to produce three-dimensional baby even if the baby moves around images in the womb."Funded by a previous grant action medical research, advanced technique provides previously unattainable measures sizes from different parts of the brain.
"Now, we are applying new technology to a more sophisticated type of magnetic resonance, called, diffusion tensor imaging so it can also be used during the embarazo.Creemos than diffusion tensor Imaging will have the power to identify lesions and abnormalities in the brain of the unborn babies." You can also show how different areas of the brain follow connected to another, revealing ways than in the brain, nerve fibers "added."
Researchers use diffusion tensor Imaging to follow the progress of around 30 fetuses which have a high risk of damage cerebrales.Los analysis carried out twice during pregnancy and repeats of birth.Development of infants, is then followed up to two years of age.
Researchers are also looking to around 20 healthy fetuses and compare the results with the analysis of premature babies, so you can assess how premature birth affects the development of the brain.
Research Group working inside of a multidisciplinary image processing unit directed by Professor Jo Hajnal, has developed state-of-the-art techniques for acquiring and analyzes MRI.Ayudan interpretation to take care of the newborn and have pioneered therapeutic interventions for babies with brain injuries.
They also have strong links with a specialized unit that provides long-term follow-up more children with brain injuries.As an extended team, researchers have published extensively in all aspects of the development of the brain in infants and brain imaging.
Dr. Yolanda Harley, Deputy Director of research for medical research in action, said: "this is a really exciting project as researchers hope that the new revolutionaries analysis van aimed to develop the will benefit pregnant women whose babies at risk of developing problems cerebro.La information obtained may be valuable in the design of new treatments for brain damage, treatments that could radically transform the whole life of a baby for the better," he said.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
For more information please contact:
Claudine Powell, Communications Manager
Tel: 01403 327478
United Kingdom action (point) (at) cweeks (dot) org
Action medical research is the charity UK - medical research leader dedicated to helping babies and children. we know that medical research can save and change the lives of the children. for almost 60 years we have been instrumental in major medical, including the development of the UK and ultrasound polio vaccine analysis during the embarazo.Hoy day advances, we still find and fund medical research to help put an end to the suffering of infants and children caused by disease and discapacidad.Queremos best make a difference in:
fight against premature birth and babies vulnerable and ill treatment, helping children affected by disability, disabling conditions and directed to rare diseases that together severely infections affect many forgotten children.
http://www.Action.org.UK
WellChild is the national charity for sick children and is committed to helping children and their families in all the United Kingdom as dealing with the consequences of serious illness and conditions complejas.WellChild focuses on three key areas:
WellChild attention: De WellChild nurses for children working with sick children and their families in cities and towns in all WellChild país.Soporte: practical aid provided by the scheme of WellChild Helping Hands enrolled volunteers from businesses and organizations support for development projects of House individual.WellChild research: WellChild has invested more than 20 million pounds sterling in health research projects children's innovative.
For more information, see http://www.wellchild.org.uk
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