Development and optimization of tools for the study of human brain anatomical connectivity using high angular resolution diffusion MRI

Project Type: FONDECYT Initiation #11121644
Position: Principal Researcher
Award Year: 2012. Ending Year: 2015.

Descripción

This project sought to develop and optimize tools for the study and analysis of brain connectivity, using Difussion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI) data.

The studies are based on High Angular Resolution Difussion Imaging (HARDI) images.

These present very high quality, due to the advancement of acquisition technologies, as well as the acquisition itself (long duration, dedicated to research) and the performed post-processing, which seek to provide a solid base for the study of the healthy adult human brain.

The main results of this project contemplate:

  • The analysis of the reproducibility of short association fascicles of the brain, using data clustering tools and cortical parcellations.

  • The optimization of an algorithm for the segmentation of brain fibers, achieving times that allow an interactive segmentation (Principal Researcher: Professor Miguel Figueroa T.).

  • The development of a tool for the optimized visualization and manipulation of brain tracts.

Other interesting results are:

  • Development of a tool for the optimized visualization of tracts for Android devices (iFiber).

  • Creation of an atlas of short brain fascicles.

  • Development of algorithms for the comparison of brain tracts, between subjects and between hemispheres.

Undergraduate Theses related to the project

Student Thesis Defense Date
Ignacio Osorio W. Electronic Civil Engineering Thesis: “Software for the Interactive Visualization and Extraction of Brain Fibers” December 31st, 2015.
Danilo Bonometti B. Electronic Civil Engineering Thesis: “Visualization of Brain Fibers” April 1st, 2015.
Daniel Seguel B. Biomedical Civil Engineering Thesis: “Automatic Algorithm for the Segmentation of Short Association Fibers of the Human Brain” March 17th, 2015.
Claudio Román G. Biomedical Civil Engineering Thesis: “Short Brain Fibers Clustering Calculated from Difussion Magnetic Resonance Imaging Images” January 16th, 2015.
Miguel Guevara O. Biomedical Civil Engineering Thesis: “Algorithm for the Automatic Segmentation of Short Brain Fibers of the Fronto-Parietal Region and the Insular Cortex” January 16th, 2015.
Pablo L. Silva P. Biomedical Civil Engineering Thesis: “Parcellation of the Brain Cortex Based on the Anatomical Connectivity” May 29th, 2014.
Eduardo Venegas A. Electronic Civil Engineering Thesis: “Development of a software for the interactive manipulation of brain fibers” July 18th, 2014.
Nicole A. Labra A. Biomedical Civil Engineering Thesis: “Optimization of Algorithm for the Classification of White Matter Fibers based on the Brain Fascicles Atlas” April 30th, 2013.
Edison Pardo R. Electronic Civil Engineering Thesis: “Study of the Variability of the Connections of Short Association of the Human Brain” April 4th, 2013.
Gabriel E. Varela M. Biomedical Civil Engineering Thesis: “Calculation of Diffusion Tensor Indices from the Westin Algorithm” April 4th, 2013.

Postgraduate Theses related to the project

Student Thesis Defense Date
Claudio Román G. Master of Engineering Sciences w/m in Electrical Engineering.
“Segmentation of brain short brain fibers based on hierarchical Clustering from HARDI database”		 November 30th, 2016.
Miguel Guevara O. Master of Engineering Sciences w/m in Electrical Engineering.
“Parcellation of the brain cortex based on fiber atlas calculated from tractography”		 January 30th, 2016.
Nicole Labra A. Master of Engineering Sciences w/m in Electrical Engineering, (co-director)
“Quick segmentation of white substance brain fibers”		 January 28th, 2015.

Publications

208, 2019

#SoyUdeC: Dr. Pamela Guevara Álvez, leader of the Medical Images Analysis Group #UdeC

University of Concepción featured professor Pamela Guevara in #SoyUdeC, a series of short videos that highlights notable members from the university. The video mentions her early interest in arts and engineering, the creation of the Medical Images Analysis Group, as well as her participation in the promotion of women in engineering and STEM fields.(Video in spanish)

2707, 2019

Claudio Román presented at EMBC 2019 Berlin

From July 23rd to 27th, 2019, at Berlin, the 41st International Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference (EMBC) took place, organised by the EMBS. The main topic of the conference was "Biomedical Engineering from well-being to intensive care", and included oral presentations as well as posters from researchers and students, exhibitions from biomedical companies and universities/institutes, among others. Biomedical Engineer and current PhD in Engineering Sciences student Claudio Román attended the conference, and presented his poster entitled "The Effect of the Number of Fibers in Tractography Reconstruction of White Matter Bundles". This paper explores the effect that the number of fibers has in the reconstruction of superficial and deep white matter bundles, with the goal of finding appropriate and recommendable parameters for use in algorithms, aiming for a balance between essential information and reasonable computational cost.  More information about the conference at the following link.

1207, 2019

“Ciencia sin Ficción” Show: “Project helps understand brain functioning through high resolution images”

The "Ciencia Sin Ficción" (Science without Fiction) show made a report about the research developed by researcher Pamela Guevara, where the main projects made by his team for the study of the brain and brain connectivity are exhibited. The interview also included collaborating researcher Cecilia Hernández, who supports computer research and development, Electronic Engineer Ignacio Osorio, who develops tools for the manipulation and visualization of brain fibers, and Biomedical Engineer Ignacio Espinoza, who developed a VR application for the exploration of the brain. The PhD student Claudio Román was also featured, who created a short association brain bundle atlas. More information on TVU website (in spanish).

607, 2019

Intensive EEG Acquisition and Analysis Course

From July 6th to the 8th, an intensive 20 hour course took place at University of Concepción, dictated by BrainSupport. This seminar was organized by Dr. Mabel Urrutia, from the Faculty of Education, director of the FONDEQUIP EQM18008 project. The expositors explained the bases of the acquisition and analysis of EEG signals, and held practical workshops to learn the functioning of the equipment along with the Hyperscanning software, which was aqcuired by the project. The collaborating researchers Esteban Pino and Pamela Guevara, from the Faculty of Engineering, participated as well, along with students from both faculties. More information in the BrainSupport website.

407, 2019

Effect of the Number of Fibers in Tractography Reconstruction of White Matter Bundles

C. Román, N. Cárdenas, C. Poupon, J.-F. Mangin, and P. Guevara. Effect of the Number of Fibers in Tractography Reconstruction of White Matter Bundles. Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC'19), Berlin, Germany, 2019, pp. 2825-2829, 8856379. DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/EMBC.2019.8856379  

107, 2019

Transmedia psychoeducational program to improve pharmacological adherence to antihypertensive treatment among eldely people

J. Sepulveda, R. Pinto, I. Roberto, I. Chamblas, M. Victoriano, M. Casanova, P. Guevara, R. Aguilera, P. Cid, T. Moreno, F. Venegas, H Müller, H. Transmedia psychoeducational program to improve pharmacological adherence to antihypertensive treatment among elderly people. Abstract in Journal of Hypertension, 37, p e224-e225, 2019. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.hjh.0000572888.63182.81

News

2018-11-10T18:32:47-03:00

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