Detailing the relation between T2* and tissue pO2 with MR-PHYSIOL to enable unambiguous MR characterization of renal hemodynamics and oxygenation

• Applicants: Professorin Dr. Duska Dragun, since 12/2016 (†); Professor Thoralf Niendorf, Ph.D.; Dr. Erdmann Seeliger
• Subject Area: Anatomy and Physiology ; Nephrology
• Term: from 2011 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 152203169

According to the unifying hypothesis of this Research Unit, renal medullary hypoperfusion and hypoxia play a pivotal role in acute kidney injury (AKI). Although a variety of methods have been developed to assess renal hemodynamics and oxygenation in vivo, a comprehensive analysis has not yet been performed to provide detailed insights into renal medullary hypoperfusion and hypoxia in AKI. The proposal’s ultimate objective is to test the unifying hypothesis by studying renal hemodynamics and oxygenation by means of new multi-modality approach that combines comprehensive advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques in murines with state-of-the-art invasive measurements. The applicants combine the critical expertise required in MRI, renal physiology, and experimental nephrology for this interdisciplinary approach. The applicants will first implement comprehensive quantitative non-invasive renal tissue characterization by parametric MRI-techniques and a setup that combines parametric MRI and established invasive methods in rats in a 9.4 Tesla MR scanner. By applying this multi-modal approach they will characterize regulation of renal hemodynamics and oxygenation by standardised test procedures in healthy rats, and in a rat I/R model of AKI, and later in mice.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 1368: Hemodynamic Mechanisms of Acute Kidney Injury
• Participating Persons: Stefanie Kox; Dr. Andreas Pohlmann
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Dr. Uwe Hoff, until 12/2016