Dementias Platform UK MR-PET network harmonisation study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Dementias Platform UK (DPUK) MR-PET network harmonisation study
IRAS ID
223411
Contact name
Julian C. Matthews
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 26 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
This is an MRC-funded study involving the seven MR-PET scanning sites which will form part of the Dementias Platform UK (DPUK) imaging network. Each site has either a MR-PET scanner manufactured by Siemens (Edinburgh, KCL, UCL) or by GE (Manchester, Imperial, Newcastle, Cambridge).
MR-PET is a new scanning method in which a MR (magnetic resonance) scan and a PET (positron emission tomography) scan are performed simultaneously. PET scanning is a very accurate method for detecting metabolic changes in the body but is less good at showing the anatomy of any abnormalities. Therefore combining a PET scan with a MR scan, a method which is good at imaging the body’s anatomy, makes diagnosis much easier.
The study will involve normal healthy elderly participants who will receive a MR-PET scan at one of the sites. Following this, each participant will undergo a repeat MR-PET scan at either the same site or at one of the other scanning sites, on either the same make of scanner or a different one.
The scanning procedures will be made as similar as possible at all sites. The study aim is to measure and quantify scanning variability within each site, and across sites with the same or different scanning equipment.
This study will be essential in informing the design of future multi-centre clinical trials which are planned, and which would use the DPUK MR-PET scanning network.
The choice of imaging measurements to be tested by this study will be guided by the requirements of future clinical trials and by those of imaging studies investigating participants who have, or are at risk of developing, dementia.Imaging data collected from this study will be archived as a reference dataset that can be shared across the DPUK network, and can be used to evaluate new methods of analysing imaging data.
Summary of Report
MR-PET is a new scanning method in which a MR (magnetic resonance) scan and a PET (positron emission tomography) scan are performed simultaneously. This study involved 42 normal healthy elderly participants of which 37 participants completed two MR-PET scans, using scanners manufactured by two manufacturers (GE and Siemens) at 8 different sites across the UK (Edinburgh, Newcastle, Sheffield, Manchester, Cambridge, UCL, ICL/Invicro, KCL). The 37 participants were randomised into one of three groups: 1) repeatability where the two scans were conducted at the same site (8 GE, 7 Siemens); 2) intra-scanner reproducibility where the scans were conducted at 2 different sites but using common scanners (6 GE, 4 Siemens); and 3) inter-scanner reproducibility where scans were conduct using both GE and Siemens scanners (12 participants). The data acquired has been transferred to a medical image storage facility in Swansea so that this anonymised image data can be shared across the research community.
The scanning procedures were well tolerated with high quality and complete data recorded from all of the 8 sites involved. To date the principal measure of amyloid uptake from the PET data has been investigated using the consensus methods in the literature. This has shown excellent agreement between the measurements from the two scans (test-retest) in 35 or the 37 participants. In one participant where there was poorer agreement with the reason investigated and identified as an error in one of the corrections that needs to be made to the PET data (corrections for photon attenuation). In one participant the quality of the data was impacted both by participant movement and a scanner fault which shortened the duration of PET data acquisition. The excellent agreement was observed in all three groups, demonstrating that consistent measurements can be obtained using scanners at different sites and using different scanning equipment. Further analysis of the acquired data is planned to investigate the test-retest of: the MR measurements; and the use of alternative methods for the quantification of the data.
In summary, the study provides strong evidence that reliable data can be obtained using these PET-MR scanners, evidence that will provide researchers with the necessary confidence to be able to use these scanners in future studies including their use in clinical trials of novel therapies.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NW/0102
Date of REC Opinion
19 Apr 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion