Muscle Research
Magnetic resonance provides several important tools for the investigation of human muscle, allowing assessment of structure, metabolism and function.
Motor unit MRI
Muscles are controlled by motor units, we have developed a method to non-invasively image motor unit activity which we call motor unit MRI (MUMRI). MUMRI makes it possible to study motor unit firing rates, sizes and shapes of active areas of muscle, and whole muscle and single motor unit twitch dynamics. We have applied MUMRI in multiple studies to investigate motor unit activity in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and in healthy controls to investigate how muscle activity changes with ageing. We have the capability to use MUMRI to study motor unit activity in conjunction with in-scanner electrical stimulation and voluntary activity.
The Centre has developed advanced methodology for measuring tissue energetics at rest and during periods of muscle exercise (31P MRS) together with 13C measures of muscle glycogen as well as conventional images to measure structure and muscle fat infiltration. These techniques are being applied to a wide range of studies ranging from investigating healthy controls through to patient groups with genetic mutations.
We have developed and applied pCASL based leg perfusion measurement.
These studies are supported by a variety of funders including:
- the MRC
- the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre
- Diabetes UK
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