Physics & Astronomy Colloquium – Dr. Bastiaan Driehuys
About the event
The Department of Physics and Astronomy invites all to a colloquium featuring Dr. Bastiaan Driehuys, Professor at Duke University School of Medicine. Dr. Driehuys will present their talk, Hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI: The Journey from the Physics Lab to the Radiology Suite.
Meet for refreshments before the lecture at 11:45 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. in the foyer on floor G above the lecture hall.
Abstract: MRI using hyperpolarized noble gases was introduced in 1994, and while showing extraordinary promise, has experienced a tortuous clinical development pathway. Although the elegance of acquiring rapid and non-invasive 3D images of an inhaled, noble gas, captivated many scientists and clinicians from the outset, its widespread clinical dissemination has been slower than might have been expected. Some of the impediment was readily attributed to barriers associated with intellectual property rights, poor corporate stewardship, and a challenging regulatory environment. Fortunately, these issues have now largely been addressed and 129Xe MRI has now completed phase III trials and is poised for FDA approval. With this progress we are now positioned to exploit the truly intriguing magnetic resonance properties that make 129Xe able to image all aspects of cardiopulmonary function. In this talk, I will review the basics of MRI and production of hyperpolarized 129Xe gas. I will detail the history of 129Xe MRI development, key clinical and technical milestones, as well as the commercial and regulatory progress. I will briefly discuss ongoing efforts to disseminate this technology and demonstrate its clinical value in improving the care of patients with lung disease. It is hoped the story of this journey can serve as a guide to others from the physical sciences realm who have ambitions to translate their technologies into the clinic.