Scots start SINAPSE for 'best practice' imaging
The Scottish Imaging Network: A Platform for Scientific Excellence (SINAPSE) consortium is studying effective medical imaging methods to help diagnose and treat patients with Alzheimer's disease, stroke and cancer.
SINAPSE is a consortium of researchers from six Scottish universities with expertise predominantly in brain imaging, according to Medical Technology Business Europe. The network is also helping to attract imaging researchers to Scotland, as well as delivering better training in the use of imaging technologies, such as MRI, PET, SPECT and EEG.
The network has conducted a number of medical imaging studies. One of these, led by the University of Aberdeen, has found that older women who live alone, and have vascular problems like diabetes and high blood pressure, are more vulnerable to symptoms of depression. The long-running study examined aging and brain function involving hundreds of volunteers from Aberdeen and Lothian. The participants, who were all born in 1936, had brain scans, body measurements, blood tests and completed other tests over the years, and researchers have made a series of discoveries linking childhood factors with dementia and Alzheimer's.
While it was already known that older people with vascular disease can suffer late onset depression, the study--which examined brain scans taken when the volunteers where 68--revealed that women, rather than men, are more prone to get depressed in later life. It showed that brain lesions--caused by blood vessel disease--were associated with depressive symptoms. It also showed the area of the brain where these lesions are found.
Meanwhile, the University of Dundee is spearheading a pilot study that involves fast tracking cancer patients to receive an earlier scan to check for secondary tumors in the spine.
"Joint projects are also now starting where the expertise of SINAPSE will be directed towards expert assessments of new techniques of great benefit to healthcare in general," said Richard A. Lerski, MD, of the University of Dundee. "The first such project will be looking at the use of MRI in breast screening."
Another study involving the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen is investigating the most effective ways of scanning stroke patients to identify earlier the brain tissue that could be salvaged by thrombolytics.
According to Alison Murray, MD, clinical senior lecturer in radiology at the University of Aberdeen and deputy director of SINAPSE, "Our first scientific meeting is about exchanging the knowledge we have gathered from our work so far which will eventually translate into the care of patients being treated for a wide range of serious diseases and disorders."
SINAPSE is a consortium of researchers from six Scottish universities with expertise predominantly in brain imaging, according to Medical Technology Business Europe. The network is also helping to attract imaging researchers to Scotland, as well as delivering better training in the use of imaging technologies, such as MRI, PET, SPECT and EEG.
The network has conducted a number of medical imaging studies. One of these, led by the University of Aberdeen, has found that older women who live alone, and have vascular problems like diabetes and high blood pressure, are more vulnerable to symptoms of depression. The long-running study examined aging and brain function involving hundreds of volunteers from Aberdeen and Lothian. The participants, who were all born in 1936, had brain scans, body measurements, blood tests and completed other tests over the years, and researchers have made a series of discoveries linking childhood factors with dementia and Alzheimer's.
While it was already known that older people with vascular disease can suffer late onset depression, the study--which examined brain scans taken when the volunteers where 68--revealed that women, rather than men, are more prone to get depressed in later life. It showed that brain lesions--caused by blood vessel disease--were associated with depressive symptoms. It also showed the area of the brain where these lesions are found.
Meanwhile, the University of Dundee is spearheading a pilot study that involves fast tracking cancer patients to receive an earlier scan to check for secondary tumors in the spine.
"Joint projects are also now starting where the expertise of SINAPSE will be directed towards expert assessments of new techniques of great benefit to healthcare in general," said Richard A. Lerski, MD, of the University of Dundee. "The first such project will be looking at the use of MRI in breast screening."
Another study involving the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen is investigating the most effective ways of scanning stroke patients to identify earlier the brain tissue that could be salvaged by thrombolytics.
According to Alison Murray, MD, clinical senior lecturer in radiology at the University of Aberdeen and deputy director of SINAPSE, "Our first scientific meeting is about exchanging the knowledge we have gathered from our work so far which will eventually translate into the care of patients being treated for a wide range of serious diseases and disorders."