PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Inflammatory demyelinating diseases represent a spectrum of heterogeneous disorders affecting the central nervous system. Multiple sclerosis (MS), aquaporin-4 positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (AQP4-NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-antibody associated disease (MOGAD), are the most defined forms. MRI has become a key investigation in the initial diagnostic work-up of patients suspected of having MS. However, the differentiation among different disease phenotypes is often challenging, since clinical and radiological findings may overlap, but crucial, because some MS therapies cause disease worsening in AQP4- NMOSD.
We will use conventional and advanced MRI tecniques along with biological markers to deliver an innovative clinical decision support tool, combining two cutting-edge technologies:
- newly discovered imaging biomarkers of de-/remyelination.
- serum biomarker signatures of neuroaxonal damage and demyelination.
The tool will be the first to combine multiple types of biomarkers to achieve unprecedented sensitivity in monitoring subtle subclinical changes in disease activity, employing deep learning for data integration, automated analysis, and prediction of disease progression in IDD.