An MRI-constrained computational model of the preterm-born lung

Decreased lung function or prematurity-associated lung disease (PLD) is common following preterm birth (<37 weeks’ gestation). PLD may be associated with different early life factors and may result in distinct disease phenotypes. The association of different types of PLD with reduced lung function is not well understood. Previous studies have observed significant discordance between lung function impairment on imaging and spirometry. Explaining these observations is limited by a current lack of structure-based models of the paediatric lung. This gap is largely because CT is the modality of choice to image lung structure, but CT is seldom used in children due to radiation exposure.

This project will address this gap, by developing a comprehensive computational model of the paediatric lung, with a focus on utilising data from novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), that is relevant to studying preterm airways and lung structure-function. This will provide a novel approach for exploring the relationship between lung structure-function and PLD in preterm-born children. 

• Image processing (particularly in MRI)
• Mathematical modelling
• Programming (particularly in Python)

Aotearoa Foundation

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