Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy can be conducted at the same time as a standard MRI. The difference is the use of a state of the art technology that analyze the chemical composition of proton (hydrogen)-based molecules, some of which are very specific to nerve cells. This technology evaluates the chemical composition and integrity of functioning upper motor neurons in the brain, particularly motor neurons. Scientists involved with MRS technology associated with ALS are Dikoma Shungu, Steven Chan, and Gerard Perrer. The work involves theoretical development (metabolic regulation and vascular physiology), technical development (noninvasive methods and their quantitative interpretation) and clinical research (pathophysiology and assessment). These interact: many diseases manifest problems of biochemical or physiological interest, on which these methods can throw light; this refines the detection and definition of problems; and this in turn leads to new theoretical insights. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was first deployed in the 1960s to characterize molecules in solvents based on emitted radio frequency (RF) spectra when the solutions were placed in a strong magnetic field and perturbed with an incident RF pulse.

MRS is an innovative means of studying the biochemical regulation of living tissue. With this technique, researchers can observe metabolism in isolated organ preparations, experimental animals and also in humans. It is non-invasive and non-destructive and thus there are a number of medical problems that in vivo MRS methods are uniquely able to address. The Imaging Group is presently using MRS to study metabolism in the brain, heart and skeletal muscle, under a wide range of conditions using the 4T system at the RRI and 1.5T and 1.89T systems at the LRI. The mission of the UVA MRI Research Facility is to continue its internationally recognized excellence through a cooperative effort with our clientele to identify and meet the unique challenges and to fulfill the goals of each individual project. Aims: To define muscle metabolic abnormalities in haemodialysed patients vs pre-dialysis patients with chronic renal failure. To study the effects of anaemia correction in dialysed patients. Methods: 31P MRS, NIRS, ASL. Personnel: Dr Kemp, Dr Raja Elina Afzan Binti Raja Ahmad (PhD student), Mr Bill Bimson (MARIARC); collaborators: Dr Hamid Anijeet & Dr Alex Crowe (Consultant Nephrologists), advised by Dr Laura Parkes (MARIARC). Funding: Orthobiotech UK & Ireland, Government of Malaysia.