http://www.bulletins-electroniques.com/actualites/62212.htm

New generation magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) platform 'Neurinfo' was launched during the autumn of 2009 in the French city of Rennes, at the university campus of Villjean. The platform will allow studying the functioning of normal brains and pathological ones.

On the research part, the project is carried out by the University of Rennes 1, the French Institute for Health and Medical Research (Inserm) and the National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control (INRIA); on the clinical part, it is implemented by the University of Rennes Medical Centre (CHU of Rennes) along with the Eugène Marquis Regional Centre for the fight against cancer.

Neurinfo's specificity lies with the fact that it combines research and clinical aspects, due to its establishment in a hospital environment. It "can indeed integrate all aspects of data processing, from the acquisition to the management of the databases" explained Christian Barillot, the head of the INSERM/INRIA research team "Visages" and the director of the platform's management committee.

Mr. Barillot specified that the platform will make it possible to develop more precise protocols for better targeted patient profiles. This will allow providing specific response to clinical needs while refining the diagnosis and the therapeutic approach alike.

The INRIA will aim to improve Neurinfo's data processing channel by developing and transferring innovative tools for the acquisition and exploitation of images as well as for the management of databases. Among other expected benefits is the possibility to define the effects of medicine on progressive brain lesions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis.

The goal of Neurinfo is to become a centre of excellence in the fields of medical imaging and neuro-imaging in clinical research by 2015.

The project is co-funded by the Brittany region, the Ille-et-Vilaine department, the city of Rennes, the European Union (through the European Regional Development Fund - ERDF), the French National Agency for Research (ANR) and the Ministry for Research and Higher Education. 

 

Further information: 

• Original news article - Bulletins.électroniques.com
• Editor: Jean-François Desessard (ADIT) - email: jfd@adit.fr 
• Origin: eTech France numéro 237 (8/02/2010) - ADIT / ADIT - http://www.bulletins-electroniques.com/actualites/62212.htm