The 129Xe MRI Clinical Trials Consortium (Xe MRI CTC) was established in 2015 and now consists of 12 Clinical Research Centers with established129Xe in-vivo MRI capabilities and independent INDs (or equivalent) within North America and the United Kingdom. These sites are in Cincinnati OH, Columbia MO, Charlottesville VA, Durham NC, Hamilton, ON, Iowa City IA, Kansas City KS, London ON, Madison WI, Sheffield UK, and Toronto ON, Vancouver BC.
Purpose of the Consortium
The purpose of this cooperative research consortium is to facilitate clinical research, education, and awareness of the capabilities of 129Xe MRI through support for:
1) collaborative clinical research in both adult and pediatric lung diseases, including longitudinal studies of individuals with lung disease, cross sectional clinical studies, phase one, two, and three trials, and/or pilot and demonstration projects.
2) training of clinical investigators in hyperpolarized gas research.
3) providing a test bed for novel approaches and technologies for biomarkers and image guided interventions, and
4) offering a platform for sharing protocols, MRI sequences, and image analysis algorithms for the associated institutions.
Each of the individual Clinical Research Centers is comprised of basic and clinical investigators, institutions, CTSAs, and relevant organizations, for the utilization of hyperpolarized gases in translational research.
- This cooperative program facilitates
- Identification of biomarkers for disease risk
- Mechanisms for monitoring disease severity/activity
- Development of image guided interventions
- Tracking responses to treatment
- Identification of clinical outcomes