A PhD studentship is available at the Institute of Cancer Research,
University of London, UK, for the project: Functional tumour measurements
using hyperpolarised xenon magnetic resonance.A dramatic enhancement of the
nuclear spin polarization of xenon in the gas phase can be achieved by
optical pumping of rubidium and subsequent spin exchange with the xenon
nuclei. This technique can increase the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
signal of xenon by over 5 orders of magnitude, thus allowing NMR detection
of xenon in very low concentration. In addition, xenon presents a wide
range of NMR Chemical Shift, which makes xenon a very sensitive probe of
its chemical environment. The large chemical shift of xenon allows
discriminating signals from different cellular compartments or tissues
providing different chemical environments. Thus, xenon NMR has considerable
potential for characterising tissues and detecting features that may relate
to prognosis or response. Xenon has been utilised to measure perfusion in
nuclear medicine single photon emission computed tomography studies for
several decades. MRI allows this approach to be combined with the high
resolution of MR and the acquisition of anatomical images. The project will
develop and apply methods of hyperpolarised xenon MRI and MRS for
functional measurements of tumours.
The Institute of Cancer Research is equipped with a state-of-the-art
clinical MR system for in vivo imaging and spectroscopy and with a
laboratory for production of laser polarizedxenon and helium. Workshop and
computing facilities are available. The project is suitablefor a student
with background in physics or chemistry. Experience in NMR or optical
techniques is a plus. The post will start October 1997. A PhD program is
normally completed in 3 years. Annual salary is approximately 8,700=A3 net
for the first year, increasing to 9,500=A3 the last year. The Institute
provides assistance for student housing.
=46or an informal discussion, contact:
Dr. Angelo Bifone
The Institute of Cancer Research
The Royal Marsden NHS Trust
Sutton, Surrey SM2 5PT, UK
tel. +44 181 6426011 (ext.3339)
fax. +44 181 6433812
bifone@icr.ac.uk
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Tanja Pietrass
Assistant Professor phone: (505) 835-5586
Department of Chemistry fax: (505) 835-5364
New Mexico Tech email: tanja@mailhost.nmt.edu
Socorro, NM 87801
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