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Page personnelle de Thomas Christen
Membre de
GIN - Équipe "Neuroimagerie fonctionnelle et perfusion cérébrale"Informations de contact
- Bureau principal
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- Tél.
- 04 56 52 06 04
Bureau principal
Thèmes de recherche et activités
I develop new MRI techniques to better understand the human brain functions and diagnose diseases. This includes better acquisition schemes (sequences, hardware) and post-processing algorithms. I am currently working on new ways to accelerate MRI protocols using the "MR fingerprinting" method combined with Artificial Intelligence codes. In parallel, I develop new tools to probe tissue microstructures by combining multi-dimensional MRI acquisitions with advanced numerical simulations. I am also involved in the development of new methodologies to evaluate connectivity and perfusion deficits in patients with neurovascular diseases.
MR vascular Fingerprinting protocol
MR vascular Fingerprinting protocol
Imunity: A generalizable AI-based solution for multicenter MR imaging harmonization
Fonctions et responsabilités
Chargé de Recherche INSERM
Discipline(s) enseignée(s)
Curriculum vitae
- EXPERIENCES
2018 / now Chargé de Recherche (eq. Associate Professor) INSERM, Grenoble Institute of Neurosciences, France.
Research topics: Magnetic resonance fingerprinting. Biophysical simulations. Machine learning image and signal processing.
2013 / 2018 Physical Science Research Associate, Stanford University, Department of Radiology, CA, USA.
Resting-state functional MRI in patients with cerebrovascular diseases: Studied brain connectivity deficits in patients with Moyamoya and stroke diseases. Developed a new approach for non-contrast imaging of perfusion (similar to PWI/DSC) based on MRI BOLD signal fluctuations.
MR fingerprinting: Developed numerical simulations of MR signal decay in presence of realistic tissue microstructures. Developed tools for the study of multi-dimensional MR acquisitions (3D spatial, temporal repetitions, multiple contrasts). Combined in silico and in vivo results to artificially increase MRI spatial resolution.
2010 / 2012 Postdoctal Scholar, Stanford University, Department of Radiology, CA, USA.
MRI imaging with iron oxide particles in humans: Developed new methods for high resolution mapping of microvascular properties (blood volume, vessel diameter, vessel density). Studied enhancement of functional MRI (fMRI) and resting-state fMRI sensitivity in presence of a blood pool agent. Studied brain perfusion and vessel architecture using Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast (DSC) and multiple echoes MR sequences. Studied MR phase signal evolution using quantitative magnetic susceptibility mapping (QSM).
Non-invasive Brain perfusion measurements in humans using gaseous challenges: Studied the effect of apnea, O2 and CO2 breathing on brain MRI signal dynamics. Compared MRI results to Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) estimates.
2006 / 2009 PhD student, Grenoble Institut des Neurosciences (GIN) - INSERM U836, Grenoble, France.
Non-invasive MRI oximetry in rodent: Proposed a new approach to quantify the BOLD effect in vivo. Developed a multiple spin and gradient echo MR sequence (Bruker Paravision environment). Compared in vivo MRI results to blood gas analysis and histology in various physiological conditions. Studied variations of brain blood oxygenation in pathologies: stroke model, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) model and several tumor models under anti-angiogenic therapy, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
19F MRI tissue oximetry in rodent: Designed and implemented 19F MRI surface coil arrays. Calibrated perfluorocarbon compounds (PO2/T1 relationship) with gaseous challenges and designed dedicated hardware. Compared MRI results with optical PO2 probes in rat brain tumors.
2006 Research Assistant, INSERM U594, Grenoble, France (6 months).
Development of MRI sequences for cellular imaging: Implemented a balanced steady-state free Precession (bSSFP) MRI sequence with phase cycling (SMIS environment). Compared efficacy of bSSFP and fast GRE acquisitions for the detection of injected cells in the rat brain.
2005 Research Assistant, University of Bath, Bath, UK (3 months).
Stereophotogrammetric analysis of the seafloor roughness: Developed tools (software+hardware) for 3D reconstruction of a scene using information from multiple digital cameras. Measured seafloor roughness to improve sonars detection.
Research topics: Magnetic resonance fingerprinting. Biophysical simulations. Machine learning image and signal processing.
2013 / 2018 Physical Science Research Associate, Stanford University, Department of Radiology, CA, USA.
Resting-state functional MRI in patients with cerebrovascular diseases: Studied brain connectivity deficits in patients with Moyamoya and stroke diseases. Developed a new approach for non-contrast imaging of perfusion (similar to PWI/DSC) based on MRI BOLD signal fluctuations.
MR fingerprinting: Developed numerical simulations of MR signal decay in presence of realistic tissue microstructures. Developed tools for the study of multi-dimensional MR acquisitions (3D spatial, temporal repetitions, multiple contrasts). Combined in silico and in vivo results to artificially increase MRI spatial resolution.
2010 / 2012 Postdoctal Scholar, Stanford University, Department of Radiology, CA, USA.
MRI imaging with iron oxide particles in humans: Developed new methods for high resolution mapping of microvascular properties (blood volume, vessel diameter, vessel density). Studied enhancement of functional MRI (fMRI) and resting-state fMRI sensitivity in presence of a blood pool agent. Studied brain perfusion and vessel architecture using Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast (DSC) and multiple echoes MR sequences. Studied MR phase signal evolution using quantitative magnetic susceptibility mapping (QSM).
Non-invasive Brain perfusion measurements in humans using gaseous challenges: Studied the effect of apnea, O2 and CO2 breathing on brain MRI signal dynamics. Compared MRI results to Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) estimates.
2006 / 2009 PhD student, Grenoble Institut des Neurosciences (GIN) - INSERM U836, Grenoble, France.
Non-invasive MRI oximetry in rodent: Proposed a new approach to quantify the BOLD effect in vivo. Developed a multiple spin and gradient echo MR sequence (Bruker Paravision environment). Compared in vivo MRI results to blood gas analysis and histology in various physiological conditions. Studied variations of brain blood oxygenation in pathologies: stroke model, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) model and several tumor models under anti-angiogenic therapy, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
19F MRI tissue oximetry in rodent: Designed and implemented 19F MRI surface coil arrays. Calibrated perfluorocarbon compounds (PO2/T1 relationship) with gaseous challenges and designed dedicated hardware. Compared MRI results with optical PO2 probes in rat brain tumors.
2006 Research Assistant, INSERM U594, Grenoble, France (6 months).
Development of MRI sequences for cellular imaging: Implemented a balanced steady-state free Precession (bSSFP) MRI sequence with phase cycling (SMIS environment). Compared efficacy of bSSFP and fast GRE acquisitions for the detection of injected cells in the rat brain.
2005 Research Assistant, University of Bath, Bath, UK (3 months).
Stereophotogrammetric analysis of the seafloor roughness: Developed tools (software+hardware) for 3D reconstruction of a scene using information from multiple digital cameras. Measured seafloor roughness to improve sonars detection.
- EDUCATION
2006 / 2009 Ph.D. in Physics, University Joseph Fourier (UJF), Grenoble, France.
2003 / 2006 Engineering Degree, Grenoble National Polytechnic Institute (INPG), Grenoble, France. Specialization in Systems and Microsystems for Physics and Biotechnologies.
2005 / 2006 Master Degree in Medical Imaging, UJF, Grenoble, France.
2000 / 2003 General Certificate of Education (Maths and Physic) and preparation for entrance exams to French Grandes Ecoles.
- AWARDS
2014 Winner of the ISMRM Young Investigator W.S. Moore Award.
2014 Named ISMRM Junior Fellow.
2014 ISMRM Summa Cum Laude Award in the Perfusion and Permeability section.
2014 ISMRM Magna Cum Laude Award in the Stroke section.
2013 ISMRM Summa Cum Laude Award in the Novel Neuroimaging Methods section.
2013 ISMRM Magna Cum Laude Award in the Perfusion and Permeability measured with Contrast Agent section.
2013 ISMRM Magna Cum Laude Award in the Perfusion and Permeability section.
2012 ISMRM Summa Cum Laude Award in the DSC, Oxygenation and Reactivity section.
2012 ISMRM Magna Cum Laude Award in the Contrast Agent based Blood Volume and Flow section.
2012 American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR) Outstanding Presentation Award (co-author).
2008 GRAMM First Place Poster Award in the methodology category.
2008 European Synchrotron Research Facility (ESRF) Highlights, 2008, p108.
2007 ISMRM Third Place Poster Award in the cancer category (co-author).
2006 Merit-based French government fellowship award.
2014 Named ISMRM Junior Fellow.
2014 ISMRM Summa Cum Laude Award in the Perfusion and Permeability section.
2014 ISMRM Magna Cum Laude Award in the Stroke section.
2013 ISMRM Summa Cum Laude Award in the Novel Neuroimaging Methods section.
2013 ISMRM Magna Cum Laude Award in the Perfusion and Permeability measured with Contrast Agent section.
2013 ISMRM Magna Cum Laude Award in the Perfusion and Permeability section.
2012 ISMRM Summa Cum Laude Award in the DSC, Oxygenation and Reactivity section.
2012 ISMRM Magna Cum Laude Award in the Contrast Agent based Blood Volume and Flow section.
2012 American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR) Outstanding Presentation Award (co-author).
2008 GRAMM First Place Poster Award in the methodology category.
2008 European Synchrotron Research Facility (ESRF) Highlights, 2008, p108.
2007 ISMRM Third Place Poster Award in the cancer category (co-author).
2006 Merit-based French government fellowship award.
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