Staff Profile
Professor Peter Thelwall
Professor of Magnetic Resonance Physics; Director, Centre for In Vivo Imaging
- Email: pete.thelwall@ncl.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 1156
- Fax: +44 (0) 191 208 1151
- Personal Website: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/magres
- Address: Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre
Translational and Clinical Research Institute
Newcastle University
Campus for Ageing & Vitality
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 5PL
Background
Role
I am Director of the Centre for In Vivo Imaging, which represents Newcastle University's in vivo imaging portfolio.
My research centres on the development of innovative MR imaging and spectroscopy methods to characterise the structure, function and physiology of human tissues and organs through non-invasive and repeatable scans. My projects aim to develop reliable and valuable quantitative measurements for implementation in clinical research, and span the intersection of magnetic resonance physics, bioscience and clinical research.
I lead projects on the development and application of lung ventilation imaging methods via 19F-MRI of inhaled tracer gases. I have expertise in the application of multinuclear MRI to clinical research and have a funding portfolio supporting these projects. My studies have involved development of novel 19F, 13C and 7Li methodologies, with resultant performance of preclinical, first in man and patient studies.
Qualifications
· BSc (Hons) - 1995, PhD (Cantab) - 1999
Positions Held
- 2020 - present: Professor of Magnetic Resonance Physics, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University
- 2009 - 2020: Reader in Magnetic Resonance Physics, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University
- 2006 - 2009: Lecturer in Magnetic Resonance Physics, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University
- 2000 - 2006: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida
Google Scholar: Click here.
Research
Multinuclear MRI to measure tissue structure, function and metabolism
Imaging lung ventilation properties by 19F-MRI of inhaled tracer gases
We are developing non-invasive and radiation-free methods for imaging lung ventilation properties, using new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technologies. Our methods provide quantitative measures with potential for translation to clinical practice.Existing techniques to objectively measure lung ventilation properties have significant limitations. For example, spirometry gives no anatomical information and CT scans incur an ionising radiation dose. There is a pressing need for techniques allowing safe, objective, repeatable and quantifiable measurements of ventilation properties. Whilst hyperpolarised noble gas MRI has demonstrated the value of non-invasive and repeatable imaging-based measures of lung ventilation in clinical research, the requirement for hyperpolarisation equipment and expertise presents a barrier to scaling these technologies to clinical practice.A new approach to MRI of ventilation imaging uses MRI of thermally polarised inhalable gases. This approach explois inert fluorocarbon gases with favourable MR relaxation properties, combined with advanced and optimised MRI scan methodologies, to produce images of an inhaled gas without the need for hyperpolarisation.Our studies seek to develop 19F-MRI of perfluoropropane by testing its ability to quantify ventilation defects, representing a step towards the ultimate goal of implementation in clinical practice. We have brought together a team of MR physicists and clinical academics with longstanding experience of respiratory conditions, MR technical approaches, and translational research. Our projects are investigating reproducibility of 19F-MRI lung ventilation imaging methods and testing their ability to quantify compromised ventilation in patients with respiratory diseases.Measurement of liver oxidative stress defences by in vivo 13C-MRS measurement of hepatic glutathione metabolism
Oxidative stress plays a central role in the progression of liver disease. We have developed a novel approach to assess hepatic oxidative stress by measuring glutathione synthesis rate with in vivo 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy. This translational project has employed preclinical models of hepatic oxidative stress insults to demonstrate feasibility, with progression to first ever human demonstration of this approach in healthy volunteers.
We employ administration of a safe and non-radioactive metabolic tracer, 13C-labelled glycine, coupled with in vivo dynamic 13C-MR spectroscopy to monitor metabolism of this tracer into glutathione and other metabolites. We have demonstrated ability to detect and characterise the impact of acute and chronic oxidative stress insults on glutathione metabolism in carefully controlled preclinical models, and successfully translated the methods to human studies. This work has been published in Hepatology: DOI 10.1002/hep.26925.
Present studies involve application of the methods to the study of patients with liver disease, performed in collaboration with the University of Nottingham.
Imaging lithium content in patients receiving treatment for bipolar disorder
We are developing advanced methods to image the distribution of lithium in patients receiving lithium carbonate as treatment for bipolar disorder. This represents direct MR imaging of a pharmaceutical agent in its target organ, and is aimed at better understanding the mechanisms of action of, and inter-patient variation in response to lithium treatment. As part of the European R-LiNK project we have established a network of sites with harmonised 7Li-MRI scan capabilities, applying lithium imaging to the study of bipolar disorder to better understand lithium treatment.
Teaching
PhD supervision
My research team includes research students enrolled in the Faculty of Medical Science PhD programme
Masters-level teaching
I contribute to the NHS Modernising Scientific Careers Clinical Sciences MSc programmes :
- Module lead for "MPY8011: Imaging with non-ionising radiation 1" - Medical Physics MSc programme
- Module lead for "MPY8012: Imaging with non-ionising radiation 2" - Medical Physics MSc programme
- Lecturer for "MPY8001: Introduction to Medical Physics" - Medical Physics MSc programme
- Lecturer for "MPY8011: Imaging with non-ionising radiation 1" - Medical Physics MSc programme
- Lecturer for "MPY8012: Imaging with non-ionising radiation 2" - Medical Physics MSc programme
- Lecturer for "CRV8011: Respiratory and Sleep Science 1" - Respiratory and Sleep Science MSc programme
Undergraduate research teaching
I host research projects placements for Newcastle University Biomedical Sciences BSc students. Students join my team at the Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre for a 10 week full time MRI research project, with the aim of achieving valuable advancement in translational MR research with co-authorship in resultant publications.
Tutor to undergraduate students
I am personal tutor for the Biomedical Sciences BSc programme, providing pastoral support to undergraduate students.
Publications
- Cooke F, Neal M, Wood MJ, de Vries IJM, Anderson AE, Diboll J, Pratt AG, Stanway J, Nicorescu I, Moyse N, Hiles D, Caulfield D, Dickinson AM, Blamire AM, Thelwall P, Isaacs JD, Hilkens CM. Fluorine labelling of therapeutic human tolerogenic dendritic cells for 19F-magnetic resonance imaging. Frontiers in Immunology 2022, 13(2022), 988667.
- Allison JR, Chary K, Ottley C, Vuong QC, German MJ, Durham J, Thelwall P. The effect of magnetic resonance imaging on mercury release from dental amalgam at 3T and 7T. Journal of Dentistry 2022, 127, 104322.
- Flouri D, Lesnic D, Chrysochou C, Parikh J, Thelwall P, Sheerin N, Kalra PA, Buckley DL, Sourbron SP. Motion correction of free-breathing magnetic resonance renography using model-driven registration. Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine 2021, 34, 805-822.
- Maunder A, Chan H-F, Hughes PJC, Collier G, Norquay G, Rodgers O, Thelwall P, Robb F, Rao M, Wild JM. MR properties of 19F C3F8 gas in the lungs of healthy volunteers: T2∗ and apparent diffusion coefficient at 1.5T and T2∗ at 3T. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 2021, 85(3), 1561-1570.
- Pippard BJ, Neal MA, Maunder AM, Hollingsworth KG, Biancardi A, Lawson RA, Fisher H, Matthews JNS, Simpson AJ, Wild JM, Thelwall PE. Reproducibility of 19F-MR ventilation imaging in healthy volunteers. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 2021, epub ahead of print.
- Neal MA, Pippard BJ, Simpson AJ, Thelwall PE. Dynamic susceptibility contrast 19F-MRI of inhaled perfluoropropane: a novel approach to combined pulmonary ventilation and perfusion imaging. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 2020, 83(2), 452-461.
- Ramsbottom SA, Thelwall PE, Wood KM, Clowry GJ, Devlin LA, Silbermann F, Spiewak HL, Shril S, Molinari E, Hildebrandt F, Gunay-Aygun M, Saunier S, Cordell HJ, Sayer JA, Miles CG. Mouse genetics reveals Barttin as a genetic modifier of Joubert syndrome. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2020, 117(2), 1113-1118.
- Neal MA, Pippard BJ, Simpson AJ, Thelwall PE. Optimized and accelerated 19F‐MRI of inhaled perfluoropropane to assess regional pulmonary ventilation. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 2019, 82(4), 1301-1311.
- Scott J, Hidalgo-Mazzei D, Strawbridge R, Young A, Resche-Rigon M, Etain B, Andreassen OA, Bauer M, Bennabi D, Blamire AM, Boumezbeur F, Brambilla P, Cattane N, Chupin M, Coello K, Cointepas Y, Colom F, Cousins DA, Dubertret C, Duchesnay E, Ferro A, Garcia-Estela A, Goikolea J, Grigis A, Haffen E, Høegh MC, Jakobsen P, Kalman JL, Kessing L, Klohn-Saghatolislam F, Lagerberg TV, Landén M, Lewitzka U, Lutticke A, Mazer N, Mazzelli M, Mora C, Mullet T, Mur-Mila E, Oedegaard KJ, Oltedal L, Pålsson E, Papadopoulos Orfanos D, Papiol S, Perez-Sola V, Reif A, Ritter P, Rossi R, Schulze T, Senner F, Smith FE, Squarcina L, Steen NE, Thelwall PE, Varo C, Vieta E, Vinberg M, Wessa M, Westlye LT, Bellivier F. Prospective cohort study of early biosignatures of response to lithium in bipolar-I-disorders: overview of the H2020-funded R-LiNK initiative. International Journal of Bipolar Disorders 2019, 7, 20.
- Necus J, Smith FE, Thelwall PE, Flowers CJ, Sinha N, Taylor PN, Blamire AM, Wang Y, Cousins DA. Quantification of brain proton longitudinal relaxation (T1) in lithium‐treated and lithium‐naïve patients with bipolar disorder in comparison to healthy controls. Bipolar Disorders 2019, 23(1), 41-48.
- Necus J, Sinha N, Smith FE, Thelwall PE, Flowers CJ, Taylor PN, Blamire AM, Cousins DA, Wang Y. White matter microstructural properties in bipolar disorder in relationship to the spatial distribution of lithium in the brain. Journal of Affective Disorders 2019, 253, 224-231.
- Smith FE, Thelwall PE, Necus J, Flowers CJ, Blamire AM, Cousins DA. 3D 7Li magnetic resonance imaging of brain lithium distribution in bipolar disorder. Molecular Psychiatry 2018, 23(11), 2184-2191.
- Neal M, Pippard B, Hollingsworth KG, Thelwall PE. Accelerated 19F-MR Imaging of Inhaled Perfluoropropane for Assessment of Pulmonary Ventilation. In: 26th ISMRM Annual Scientific Meeting. 2018, Paris, France: International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
- Cousins D, Smith F, Necus J, Thelwall P, Flowers C, Taylor P, Sinha N, Wang YJ, Blamire A. Imaging the distribution and effects of lithium in the brain in bipolar disorder. In: 73rd Annual Meeting of the Society of Biological Chemistry. 2018, New York: Elsevier.
- Neal M, Sexton H, Blamire AM, Thelwall PE. Microporous lung phantoms for 19F MRI of inhaled imaging agents with physiologically representative relaxation times. In: ISMRM Annual Scientific Meeting 2018. 2018, Paris, France: International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
- Pippard B, Neal M, Dutta P, Simpson AJ, Thelwall P. 19F-MRI of inhaled perfluoropropane gas: a novel approach to ventilation imaging. In: British Thoracic Society Winter Meeting. 2017, London, UK: BMJ Publishing Group.
- Neal M, Dutta P, Simpson AJ, Blamire AM, Thelwall PE. Determination of RF and acquisition properties for optimal scan performance in 19F-MRI of inhaled perfluoropropane. In: ISMRM Annual Meeting 2017. 2017, Honolulu, Hawaii: ISMRM.
- Neal M, Pippard B, Hollingsworth KG, Simpson AJ, Blamire AM, Thelwall PE. Maximising Performance of 19F MRI of Inhaled Perfluoropropane. In: 2nd 19F MRI Symposium: Red Hot MRI: Fluorine Imaging. 2017, Berlin, Germany.
- Fuchs C, Gonzalez J, Beelen M, Cermak N, Smith F, Thelwall PE, Taylor R, Trenell M, Stevenson E, van Loon L. Sucrose ingestion after exhaustive exercise accelerates liver, but not muscle glycogen repletion when compared to glucose ingestion in trained athletes. Journal of Applied Physiology 2016, 120(11), 1328-1334.
- Macauley M, Percival K, Thelwall PE, Hollingsworth KG, Taylor R. Altered Volume, Morphology and Composition of the Pancreas in Type 2 Diabetes. PLOS One 2015, 10(5), e0126825.
- Macauley M, Smith FE, Thelwall PE, Hollingsworth KG, Taylor R. Diurnal variation in skeletal muscle and liver glycogen in humans with normal health and Type 2 diabetes. Clinical Science 2015, 128(10), 707-713.
- Macauley M, Hollingsworth KG, Smith FE, Thelwall PE, Al-Mrabeh A, Schweizer A, Foley JE, Taylor R. Effect of Vildagliptin on Hepatic Steatosis. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 2015, 100(4), 1578-1585.
- Gonzalez JT, Fuchs CJ, Smith FE, Thelwall PE, Taylor R, Stevenson EJ, Trenell MI, Cermak NM, van Loon LJC. Ingestion of glucose or sucrose prevents liver but not muscle glycogen depletion during prolonged endurance-type exercise in trained cyclists. American Journal of Physiology Endocrinology and Metabolism 2015, 309(12), E1032-E1039.
- Hynes AM, Giles RH, Srivastava S, Eley L, Whitehead J, Danilenko M, Raman S, Slaats GG, Colville JG, Ajzenberg H, Kroes HY, Thelwall PE, Simmons NL, Miles CG, Sayer JA. Murine Joubert syndrome reveals Hedgehog signaling defects as a potential therapeutic target for nephronophthisis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2014, 111(27), 9893-9898.
- Skamarauskas JT, Oakley F, Smith FE, Bawn C, Dunn M, Vidler DS, Clemence M, Blain PG, Taylor R, Gamcsik MP, Thelwall PE. Non-invasive in vivo magnetic resonance measures of glutathione synthesis in human and rat liver as an oxidative stress biomarker. Hepatology 2014, 59(6), 2321-2330.
- Thelwall PE, Smith FE, Leavitt MC, Canty D, Hu W, Hollingsworth KG, Thoma C, Trenell MI, Taylor R, Rutkowski JV, Blamire AM, Quinn AG. Hepatic Cholesteryl Ester Accumulation in Lysosomal Acid Lipase Deficiency: Non-Invasive Identification and Treatment Monitoring by Magnetic Resonance. Journal of Hepatology 2013, 59(3), 543-549.
- Detko E, OHara JP, Thelwall PE, Smith FE, Jakovljevic DG, King RF, Trenell MI. Liver and muscle glycogen repletion using 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy following ingestion of maltodextrin, galactose, protein and amino acids. British Journal of Nutrition 2013, 110(5), 848-855.
- Detko E, O'Hara JP, Thelwall PE, Smith FE, Jakovljevic DG, King RFGJ, Trenell MI. Liver and muscle glycogen repletion using C-13 magnetic resonance spectroscopy following ingestion of maltodextrin, galactose, protein and amino acids. British Journal of Nutrition 2013, 110(5), 848-855.
- Hodson K, Man CD, Smith FE, Thelwall PE, Cobelli C, Robson SC, Taylor R. Mechanism of Insulin Resistance in Normal Pregnancy. HORMONE AND METABOLIC RESEARCH 2013, 45(8), 567-571.
- Thelwall PE, Simpson NE, Rabbani ZN, Clark MD, Pourdeyhimi R, Macdonald JM, Blackband SJ, Gamcsik MP. In vivo MR studies of glycine and glutathione metabolism in a rat mammary tumor. NMR in Biomedicine 2012, 25(2), 271-278.
- Lim EL, Hollingsworth KG, Smith FE, Thelwall PE, Taylor R. Effects of raising muscle glycogen synthesis rate on skeletal muscle ATP turnover rate in type 2 diabetes. American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism 2011, 301(6), E1155.
- Lim EL, Hollingsworth KG, Smith F, Thelwall P, Taylor R. Inhibition of lipolysis in type 2 diabetes normalizes glucose disposal without change in muscle glycogen synthesis rates. Clinical Science 2011, 121(4), 169-177.
- Thelwall PE, Taylor R, Marshall SM. Non-invasive Investigation of Kidney Disease in Type 1 Diabetes by Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Diabetologia 2011, 54(9), 2421-2429.
- Gamcsik M, Clark MD, Ludeman SM, Springer JB, D'Alessandro MA, Simpson NE, Pourdeyhimi R, Johnson CB, Teeter SD, Blackband SJ, Thelwall PE. Non-invasive Monitoring of L-2-Oxothiazolidine-4-Carboxylate Metabolism in the Rat Brain by In vivo C-13 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Neurochemical Research 2011, 36(3), 443-451.
- Smith FE, Cousins DA, Thelwall P, Ferrier IN, Blamire AM. Quantitative lithium magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the normal human brain on a 3 T clinical scanner. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 2011, 66(4), 945-949.
- Lim EL, Hollingsworth KG, Thelwall PE, Taylor R. Measuring the acute effect of insulin infusion on ATP turnover rate in human skeletal muscle using phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance saturation transfer spectroscopy. NMR in Biomedicine 2010, 23(8), 952-957.
- Shepherd TM, Thelwall PE, Stanisz GJ, Blackband SJ. Aldehyde fixative solutions alter the water relaxation and diffusion properties of nervous tissue. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 2009, 62(1), 26-34.
- Stevenson EJ, Thelwall PE, Thomas K, Smith F, Brand-Miller JC, Trenell MI. Dietary glycemic index influences lipid oxidation but not muscle or liver glycogen oxidation during exercise. American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism 2009, 296(5), E1140-1147.
- Hollingsworth KG, Jones DE, Aribisala BS, Thelwall PE, Taylor R, Newton JL, Blamire AM. Globus pallidus magnetisation transfer ratio, T1 and T2 in primary biliary cirrhosis: relationship with disease stage and age. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging 2009, 29(4), 780-784.
- Shepherd TM, Flint JJ, Thelwall PE, Stanisz GJ, Mareci TH, Yachnis AT, Blackband SJ. Postmortem interval alters the water relaxation and diffusion properties of rat nervous tissue - Implications for MRI studies of human autopsy samples. NeuroImage 2009, 44(3), 820-826.
- Thelwall PE. Detection of 17O-tagged phosphate by 31P MRS: A method with potential for in vivo studies of phosphorus metabolism. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 2007, 57(6), 1168-1172.
- Garrood P, Hollingsworth K, Thelwall P, Birchall D, Eagle M, Bushby K, Straub V. MRI in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Quantification of fat infiltration and gadolinium uptake using whole-muscle regions of interest. Neuromuscular Disorders 2007, 17(9-10), 816-817.
- Thelwall PE, Shepherd TM, Stanisz GJ, Blackband SJ. Effects of temperature and aldehyde fixation on tissue water diffusion properties, studied in an erythrocyte ghost tissue model. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 2006, 56(2), 282-289.
- Ozarslan E, Basser PJ, Shepherd TM, Thelwall PE, Vemuri BC, Blackband SJ. Observation of anomalous diffusion in excised tissue by characterizing the diffusion-time dependence of the MR signal. Journal of Magnetic Resonance 2006, 183(2), 315-323.
- Thelwall PE, Yemin AY, Gillian TL, Simpson NE, Kasibhatla MS, Rabbani ZN, MacDonald JM, Blackband SJ, Gamcsik MP. Noninvasive In vivo Detection of Glutathione Metabolism in Tumors. Cancer Research 2005, 65(22), 10149-10153.
- Shepherd TM, Thelwall PE, Blackband SJ, Pike BR, Hayes RL, Wirth ED III. Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging study of a rat hippocampal slice model for acute brain injury. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism 2003, 23(12), 1461-1470.
- Shepherd TM, Wirth ED, Thelwall PE, Chen HX, Roper SN, Blackband SJ. Water Diffusion Measurements in Perfused Human Hippocampal Slices Undergoing Tonicity Changes. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 2003, 49(5), 856-863.
- Thelwall PE, Grant SC, Stanisz GJ, Blackband SJ. Human Erythrocyte Ghosts: Exploring the Origins of Multiexponential Water Diffusion in a Model Biological Tissue With Magnetic Resonance. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 2002, 48(4), 649-657.
- Thelwall PE, Neves AA, Brindle KM. Measurement of bioreactor perfusion using dynamic contrast agent-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 2001, 75(6), 682-690.
- Beck B, Plant DH, Grant SC, Thelwall PE, Silver X, Mareci TH, Benveniste H, Smith M, Collins C, Crozier S, Blackband SJ. Progress in high field MRI at the University of Florida. Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine 2001, 13(3), 152-157.
- Thelwall PE, Brindle KM. Analysis of CHO-K1 cell growth in a fixed bed bioreactor using magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging. Cytotechnology 1999, 30(1/3), 121-132.
- Beauregard DA, Thelwall PE, Chaplin DJ, Hill SA, Adams GE, Brindle KM. Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy of combretastatin A4 prodrug-induced disruption of tumour perfusion and energetic status. British Journal of Cancer 1998, 77(11), 1761-7.