Q&A with Kai Herz and Moritz Zaiss

November 29, 2019

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In today’s interview, we highlight the latest paper by first author Kai Herz and last author Moritz Zaiss, from Magnetic Resonance Center at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Germany. Their paper is titled “T1ρ-based dynamic glucose-enhanced (DGEρ) MRI at 3 T: method development and early clinical experience in the human brain”.

For those who would like to get a quick overview of our discussion, below is an annotation of the interview. Clicking on the timestamp will take you to the exact video location where the topic is discussed.

0:00 Intro: MRM Highlights contributor Fang Liu introduces Kai Herz and Moritz Zaiss and gives a quick overview of the upcoming interview.

0:55 Audioslides: Kai summarizes the study. A dynamic glucose-enhanced (DGErho) MRI protocol was developed for 3T with a 3D readout and motion and dynamic B0 correction, and was evaluated in a glioblastoma patient measurement.

7:12 Kai has a background in medical engineering, and is currently in his third year of his PhD studies. Moritz is a physicist by training, and got started in MRI in Heidelberg at the German Cancer Research Center.

9:34 Moritz explains the concept of “T1ρ-based dynamic glucose-enhanced imaging” and explains the differences between this technique and other widely used gadolinium-enhanced perfusion imaging techniques.

13:40 According to Kai, low CEST effects is an inherent challenge for glucoCEST at 3T, and motion correction is the most crucial and challenging part of getting reliable images.

16:11 Moritz talks about his research experience and the goal of glucoCEST imaging. Kai explains how his Ph.D. thesis work aligns with the content of this paper.

20:35 Outside the lab, Kai played football for many years, and recently switched to running. Moritz gives us a demonstration of his home-made spin simulator.