MSc Medical Imaging Science / Course details

This course unit addresses the question of imaging biomarkers, covering the diverse range of imaging biomarkers, the requirements for validation of biomarkers, their use in clinical practice and drug discovery, and regulatory issues.

The unit will be lecture based, including lectures by experts who will talk about the use of imaging biomarkers in a number of different disease areas and who will talk about some of the emerging imaging biomarkers and grand challenges for future biomarkers. It will draw examples from the widest variety of diseases, modalities and purposes.

The unit will be divided into two sections. During the first 4-5 weeks (part A) the following will be addressed:

1. Formal definitions of biomarkers
2. Ways of classifying biomarkers depending on their nature and application:

• ex-vivo bio-specimen versus in-vivo versus reported outcomes
• prognostic, predictive, monitoring, and response biomarkers
• pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and disease modifying
• the pharmacologic audit trail (Workman)

3. Examples of imaging biomarkers in practice in medical research and healthcare and focused on their use in a number of disease areas such as:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Oncology
• Respiratory
• Musculoskeletal
• Cardiovascular

During part A, a literature project with be conducted (project A) where the skills gained from part A will be used to conduct a critical literature assessment of the status of a selected imaging biomarker. This will be assessed through an oral presentation at the end of part A.

During the remaining lectures (part B) the following will be addressed:

• Technical validation, qualification, surrogacy and QA/QC
• Repeatability, reproducibility, accuracy and availability
• Evidence for biological validation
• Regulatory, ethical and cost issues.
• Emerging imaging biomarkers and grand challenges for future biomarkers

During part B, a second literature project with be conducted (project B) where the skills gained from both part A and part B will be used to conduct a more in depth critical literature assessment of the status of a different imaging biomarker. This will be assessed through a structured written report at the end of the unit.

A glossary of biomarker definitions can be found at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK326791/

Students are required to have attended Radioisotope Imaging and Non-Radioisotope Imaging before studying this unit.

To provide students with an understanding of:

• the diversity of imaging biomarkers (diseases, modalities, purposes, etc)
• the requirements of technical validation and qualification of imaging biomarkers and how this differs from molecular biomarkers
• the differing needs of drug development, personalised healthcare, population studies, and clinical practice
• and an ability to critically assess the qualification status of an imaging biomarker from published literature

In addition, students will gain some awareness of:

• regulatory and cost issues
• unmet needs and research opportunities

The unit will consist of face to face lectures and group discussion with two project based assignments consisting of reviewing the current status of an imaging biomarker from literature.

Formal summative assessments