Project to improve diagnosis of motor neurone disease receives BIR bursary

Academic clinical fellow in clinical radiology Dr Andrew Nanapragasam from King’s College Hospital, London, has been presented with a BIR/Siemens Healthineers research bursary to develop a clinically applicable means of identifying muscle fibres affected by motor neurone disease (MND). The award was presented by Siemens Healthineers managing director GB and Ireland Peter Harrison and The British Institute of Radiology president Dr Jane Phillips-Hughes.

It can take around 12 months to make a diagnosis of MND, a delay that can be principally attributed to the poor sensitivity of electromyography (EMG). This project will develop a clinically applicable means of identifying muscle fibres affected by MND using a fusion ultrasound system, which will allow superposition of volumetric MR data into a three-dimensional ultrasound space, providing a cost and time efficient solution to the problem. The aim of the project is the refinement of the radiological workflow with a view to creating a design for an ultrasound-EMG hybrid tool.

The £1,000 award provides pilot funding for research in radiology, radiotherapy, oncology, radiography or medical physics. This helps researchers attract further funding from external sources.

Dr Nanapragasam said: “The generosity of the BIR and Siemens in helping to fund our work is much appreciated. Their assistance will allow us to investigate our imaging techniques with a view to making a real difference to the investigation of this debilitating condition.”

Applications are now open for 2020 bursaries, also supported by Siemens Healthineers.

Picture: BIR president Dr Jane Phillips-Hughes, academic clinical fellow in clinical radiology, King’s College Hospital, Dr Andrew Nanapragasam and Siemens Healthineers managing director GB and Ireland Peter Harrison.

Published on page 2 of the January 2020 issue of RAD Magazine.