The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded a $534,141 Project Grant (CFDA 93.853 - Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders) to The Children's Hospital Corporation, doing business as Boston Children's Hospital, with an award date of July 10, 2024 and completion date of May 31, 2029. The purpose of this grant is to develop and evaluate a novel functional MRI (fMRI) acquisition strategy using 3D Echo Planar Imaging (EPI) with real-time motion and magnetic field compensation. This improved fMRI approach aims to produce higher quality activation maps for pre-surgical mapping in pediatric epilepsy patients, enabling more effective resection surgery planning while minimizing functional deficits. Through this grant, Boston Children's Hospital will undertake three specific aims: 1) develop and evaluate a novel FID navigator-based technology to measure head motion and magnetic field fluctuations in multi-shot 3D EPI; 2) develop and evaluate prospective motion correction and dynamic shimming using the real-time motion and field measurements; and 3) apply and evaluate the motion and distortion compensation techniques in fMRI of pediatric epilepsy surgery candidates.
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