Alan Moody

Research Synopsis: Vascular Biology Imaging

The vascular biology imaging research group, under the direction of Dr. Alan Moody, is part of the imaging research discipline, and heart & circulation research program at Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI). Dr. Moody is also the chief of Medical Imaging at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

As a practicing radiologist and clinician Dr. Moody’s research aim is to apply evolving research techniques, particularly in the field of magnetic resonance imaging to the investigation of the process of disease. Over the last five years Dr. Moody has developed techniques that provide quantitative and qualitative data from MR images that allow the cross sectional and longitudinal study of disease. His interest in MRI is fostered by the belief that an ideally useful an imaging technique should have the ability to extract diverse characteristics from tissue or organs while causing no actual harm to tissue – MRI approaches that ideal.

Our group engages in clinical and basic research of novel diagnostic imaging techniques, their applications on vascular diseases, and various aspects of vascular biology. Specifically, Direct Thrombus Imaging in an MRI technique that exploits the fact that thrombi contain blood products such as methaemoglobin. This acts an endogenous contrast agent when imaged using a T1-weighted magnetic resonance sequence - appearing as high signal. This can be used to detect subacute thrombosis and to identify complicated plaque in the carotid arteries in the setting of transient and permanent cerebral ischemia. Because of the noninvasive nature of MRI, application of MRDTI in the research setting for the monitoring of therapeutic interventions in a wide number of settings within vascular disease is very appealing. Currently, our major thrust is the imaging of vessel wall disease, namely atheroma, and the subsequent complications of vascular occlusion and end organ consequences.

Please contact Dr. Moody with any questions about his research activities and current opportunities in his group.