Doctoral School

Advanced MRI data acquisition and management – fast forward from proton to publication

Target audience

  • Members Doctoral School of (Bioscience) Engineering 
  • Members Doctoral School of Life Sciences and Medicine 
  • Members Doctoral School of Psychology and Educational Sciences
  • Doctoral/other researchers other universities (please specify): VUB, UZL, UA, ULiège, Louvain-La-Neuve. 

Organizing and scientific committee

  • Prof. Dr. Ir. Pim Pullens (UGent visiting professor/UZ Gent MRI physicist & biomedical engineer)                

  • Prof. Dr. Ir. Pim Pullens  (UZ Gent - UGent ZAP - CORE GIfMI MRI physicist)

  •  Ing. Pieter Vandemaele (UGent ATP – CORE GIfMI MRI engineer) 

  • Msc. Stephanie Bogaert (UZ Gent – CORE GIfMI MRI research assistant)  

Abstract

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used to produce high quality images of the body. This course will provide current/future PhD students and regular users of the MRI scanner available at GIfMI (Ghent Institute for Functional and Metabolic Imaging) with insights in the black box that MRI may be: from the balance and trade-offs between acquisition parameters, over data quality control to data management.  

Objectives

This course is aimed at those who would like to understand:

  • The trade-offs between MRI data acquisition parameters (protocol optimisation). 
  • What the relevance is of different parameters in an MRI protocol.
  • The mechanism and extra pitfalls of 3D imaging.  
  • Good practices for data quality control.
  • Good practices for data conversion and management.
  • The importance of the iterative process of pilot sessions, data acquisition and postprocessing.
  • Tools for data conversion, data structuring and postprocessing.

Dates and venue

19th & 20th May 2025

Programme

DAY 1: FROM PROTON TO PICTURE (9AM – 4:30PM)

  • Basic MRY Physics (SNR, CNR, spatial encoding)
  • Insights in protocol optimization and parameter trade-offs
  • Inspirational showcase: quantitative MRI
  • Open the black box: understanding your MRI protocol
  • Importance of education and an expert network
     

DAY 2: FROM PICTURE TO PUBLICATION (9AM – 4:30PM)
PROTOCOL SET-UP

  • Scientific MRI: an iterative process resulting in the ultimate pipeline
  • The importance of piloting before massive MRI data acquisition

RESEARCH DATA MANAGEMENT

  • Research data management: from RAW to MAP
  • Data structure: BIDS

POSTPROCESSING TOOLS

  • Open the black box: understanding data processing
  • Showcase and hands-on sessions: Neurodesk

Registration

  • Follow this link for the registration and waiting list. We check if you are eligible to participate. Due to limited places, we give priority to PhD students. Your registration will be confirmed by separate e-mail (outlook invite).
  • Cancellation of your registration can only be performed by sending an email to doctoralschools@ugent.be.

  • The no show policy applies.

Registration fee

Free of charge for Doctoral School members.

Number of participants

Maximum 60

Language

English

Training method

Each module consists of a presentation in form of a live lecture or hands-on session given by experienced teachers and additionally offers the possibility of direct interaction with the speaker with question/answer time at the end of each module. The content will be supplemented with comparative demonstrations, showcases and case studies.  Required knowledge: Basic MRI Physics (UGent DS course September 2024 or self-study). 

Evaluation method

After successful participation, the Doctoral School Office will add this course to your curriculum of the Doctoral Training Programme in Oasis. Please note that this can take up to one to two months after completion of the course. GIfMI will award a certificate of attendance to successful candidates who attended a 100%..