Radiological physics

Radiological Physics is mainly active in the areas of research - magnetic resonance (MR) and ionizing radiation - and teaching, and to a lesser extent in the service sector.

Team

Radiation protection

Research

Our focus is on methodological development in MR imaging, research into new procedures that enable quantitative tissue characterization in patients in the broadest sense. In the first step, the focus is often not on a clinical question or specific organ disease, but rather on the most universal possible description and analysis of MR signal generation in living tissue and in samples. In this virtual, computer-modelled and simulated world, the behaviour of nuclear magnetization can be investigated in response to external changes (flow, oxygenation, diffusion, etc.).

Radiological Physics also sees itself as a platform for collaborative projects through the development and provision of specific MR techniques, especially in the areas of fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging), neurological imaging, cardiac imaging and musculoskeletal imaging.

We also deal with aspects of ionizing radiation, for example in connection with diagnostic reference values in radiology and nuclear medicine.

Teaching and training

We are involved in the training and supervision of students (master's and doctoral theses) in medicine, physics, electrical engineering, computer science and biomedical engineering. We also offer various lectures and seminars on radiation physics and radiation protection, special topics in MR and biomedical technology. We regularly organize training courses for occupationally exposed persons at the University Hospital Basel, particularly on the subject of radiation protection.

Service

We are responsible for the radiation monitoring of around 700 occupationally exposed persons at the University Hospital. Our tasks also include the coordination of quality assurance at the X-ray facilities throughout the hospital, licensing for the operation of this equipment, dose assessments for X-ray examinations and advice on various radiation protection issues within and outside the hospital.

Research

Our research is focused on the methodological development and basic research in the fundamentals of magnetic resonance, and on their potential applications in the field of biophysical, biochemical, and clinical sciences.

We believe that basic research on MR signal formation and the development of dedicated MR techniques is the key for a widespread application of MR in the future.

MR Theory and Sequences

The analysis, description and development of rapid gradient echo or steady state free precession sequences for basic research and clinical applications have been a major research focus of our group since more than one decade.

Our expertise and research activities in the field of MR theory and sequence development covers:

MR signal theory
Rapid Imaging Techniques
Echo Generation and Manipulation
Ultra-High Fields Methods

MR Tissue Characterization

During the last years, we concentrated on the development and application of rapid gradient echo techniques, particularly balanced and non-balanced steady state techniques, with a special focus on MR tissue quantification.

Our expertise and research activities in the field of MR tissue characterization covers:

Relaxometry
Diffusion Imaging
Quantitative Magnetization Transfer
Water-Fat Imaging
Imaging of short-lived T2 species
Post Mortem MRI

Interventional MRI

We are active in the field of interventional MRI since years and developed various techniques for rapid acquisition of positive contrast images, real-time feedback procedures for MR-guided high intensity focused ultrasound, prospective motion tracking using navigator techniques, cell tracking or molecular imaging.

Our expertise and research activities in the field of interventional MRI covers:

MR-guided interventions
Cell Tracking and Molecular Imaging

Functional MRI

We believe that functional imaging is not limited solely to the detection of brain activity, but can be applied to a variety of other organs, such as the lung, heart, or muscle using dedicated and carefully designed MR techniques.

Our expertise and research activities in the field of functional MRI covers:

BOLD Imaging
Flow and Motion
MR Elastography
Magnetic Resonance Electromyography (MR-EMG)
Lung Imaging

External Collaborators and Industrial Partners

External Collaborators

Hemodynamics and Cardiovascular Technology Laboratory (LHTC), EPFL, CH
Radiology, UKBB, Basel, CH
Rares V. Salomir, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, CH
Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, CH
Medical Image Analysis Center (MIAC), University of Basel, CH
EOC, Lugano, CH
Department of Radiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, DE
MRC Department, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, DE
Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Essen, DE
High-Field MR Center, Department of Radiology, Medical University of Vienna, A
Daniel Jirák, Department of Radiodiagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, CZ