Overview
The course has been running at the current venue since 1998. It gives an introduction to methods and applications of biomedical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy, assuming no prior knowledge of the principles of magnetic resonance.

The course is intended to be useful both for NHS physicists who deal with MRI in a clinical setting, and for scientists (such as postdocs and PhD students new to the field) performing research in the field of in vivo NMR. It includes the opportunity to virtually observe measurements demonstrated on one of the Siemens 1.5T MR systems, installed at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. A provisional lecture list is available below.

The course assumes some familiarity with general principles of physics, but no specific knowledge of magnetic resonance.

Group tutorials are included to give students the opportunity to discuss the material in small groups, and to perform simple exercises to reinforce and extend the teaching of the formal lectures.

The course begins at 9.30am on Monday 17 October 2022, and finishes late afternoon on Wednesday 19 October 2022. One-and-a-half-hour virtual group demonstrations may be included as part of the course on the Monday or Tuesday evenings.

This is a CPD course approved by IPEM.

Provisional lecture list
Basis of NMR
Relaxation Parameters and Spin Echoes
Magnetic Field Gradients, Slice Selection and Frequency Encoding
2D FT Imaging, k-space
Basic Imaging Sequences: Spin-echo and Gradient Echo
Hardware – Magnets, Gradients and Eddy Currents
Image Contrast, Resolution and Factors Affecting Signal-to-Noise
Hardware – RF Requirements and RF Coils
MRI in Practice
Image Artefacts
Safety Considerations
Introduction to in vivo MR Spectroscopy
Single-voxel MRS
Introduction to Spectroscopic Imaging (CSI)
MRI in Drug Discovery
Advanced Pulse Sequences and Techniques
MRI in Radiotherapy Planning
Flow and Angiography
Introduction to Perfusion, Diffusion and Functional MRI
Clinical Examples of MR
Most lectures will be 45 minutes in duration.

Provisional list of lecturers
Dr M Blackledge – ICR and RMH, Sutton
Dr G Charles-Edwards – Guy’s and St Thomas Hospitals, London and ICR
Dr K De Paepe – Cambridge
Dr S Doran – ICR and RMH, Sutton
Dr M Graves – Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge
Dr E Kousi – ICR and RMH, Sutton
Dr P Murphy – The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
Dr M Orton – RMH and ICR, Sutton
Dr GS Payne – ICR and RMH, Sutton
Dr M Rata – ICR and RMH, Sutton
Dr M Schmidt – ICR and RMH, Sutton
Professor G Barker – Kings College, London
Dr J Winfield – RMH and ICR, Sutton

Further Information, including course fees and details of how to register, can be found at:
http://www.icr.ac.uk/mri_spectroscopy_course

Or by contacting Jessica.keegan@icr.ac.uk