OVERVIEW

Part 2: School of MRI Comprehensive Course on Practical MR Physics is organized by European Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Biology (ESMRMB) and will be held from Sep 03 - 24, 2024.

Aim:
Are you already familiar with spins and k-space? Are you’re eager to delve deeper into these concepts and gain a comprehensive understanding of MRI physics? ESMRMB presents an online eLearning course tailored for clinicians, biologists, radiographers, and technicians who work with MRI or have a keen interest in utilizing MRI for research. The course is designed to accommodate participants with varying levels of experience in MR techniques and MR physics. Whether you’re just starting or looking to enhance your existing knowledge, this course is the perfect fit for you.

The eLearning course consists of 8 modules, each lasting 60 minutes. These modules occur weekly and include a self-assessment test to reinforce your learning. You’ll have the unique opportunity to attend live lectures presented by experts in the field. The course also promotes direct interaction with the speakers during the lectures and dedicated question-and-answer sessions at the end of each module.

For added flexibility, the course is divided into two parts, allowing for independent registrations. All lectures are recorded and accessible on demand. A minimum number of attendance is required for a certificate of attendance and a successful passing of the self-assessment test for a certificate of competence.

Goals:
Attendance of the course on practical MR physics for clinicians, biologists, radiographers and technicians will enable you to understand:
• signal and contrast generation in MR images at different conditions (morphological, biophysical and technical)
• image formation and reconstruction
• basic and advanced MR sequences for your clinical questions and avoid pitfalls
• how to assess and enhance image quality by optimizing sequence and imaging parameters
• quantitative imaging and the use of contrast agents
• advanced MRI techniques such as diffusion imaging, perfusion sequences, functional MRI and PET/MRI
• how MR images can be interpreted back to tissue components and functional activities
• safe applications of MRI by knowing the involved hardware components and basic safety risks

PART II-DETAILED
Module 5: Fat Suppression and Introduction to Quantitative Imaging
Tuesday, September 3
Lecturer: Jessica Bastiaansen, Bern/CH
• Different fat suppression techniques: STIR, FatSat, SPAIR, water excitation, Dixon imaging
• Quantitative T1 and T2 mapping
• MR fingerprinting, Quantitative Parameter Mapping
• More examples and organs of interest for quantitative imaging

Module 6: Diffusion and Beyond
Tuesday, September 10
Lecturer: Cornelius Faber, Münster/DE
• Diffusion
• Perfusion
• Functional MRI
• Susceptibility weighted imaging

Module 7: More Clinical Sequences, Contrast Agents and hybrid PET/MRI
Tuesday, September 17
Lecturer: Maria Eugenia Caligiuri,Catanzaro/IT
• Introduction to contrast agents and radiopharmaceuticals
• Safety of contrast agents and radiopharmaceuticals
• PET/MRI: advantages and disadvantages
• PET/MRI: utility in clinical practice

Module 8: MR Safety
Tuesday, September 24
Lecturer: Francesco Santini, Basel/CH
• The B0 field: biological effects and ferromagnetic attraction
• The Gradient fields: biological effects, acoustic noise, and interaction with implants
• The RF field: SAR, focal heating, and implants
• The thought processes of an MR safety professional