Novel MRI Technique Offers Hope for Earlier Detection of Spinal Cord Injuries and Diseases

A new functional MRI (fMRI) technique developed by researchers at Northwestern Medicine is showing promise in improving the assessment of blood flow in the spinal cord. This noninvasive method could lead to earlier detection of neurological diseases and injuries, better monitoring of recovery, and more informed treatment decisions for patients with spinal cord conditions.

Challenges in Imaging the Spinal Cord

Historically, imaging blood flow and vascular function in the spinal cord has been a significant challenge. The spinal cord’s small size, constant movement due to breathing, and the presence of surrounding cerebrospinal fluid have made it difficult to obtain clear and accurate images. This new technique aims to overcome these obstacles.

How the New fMRI Technique Works

The technique, developed by Molly G. Bright, DPhil, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Northwestern Engineering and assistant professor of physical therapy and human movement sciences at the Feinberg School of Medicine, allows investigators to more accurately assess blood flow in the spinal cord. Dr. Bright’s lab focuses on developing advanced MRI techniques to assess the healthy function and interaction of neural activity and vascular physiology throughout the human central nervous system [1].

Potential Applications and Research Focus

Researchers are exploring the use of this technique to detect early signs of neurological disease or injury, monitor patient recovery, and guide treatment decisions. The Applied Neuro-Vascular Imaging Lab (ANVIL) is specifically investigating conditions such as:

• Acute and chronic stroke
• Cerebral palsy
• Traumatic and degenerative spinal cord injury
• Multiple sclerosis

The ultimate goal is to create robust, noninvasive imaging techniques to study individual patient pathophysiology and optimize responses to rehabilitative interventions [2].

Collaborative Research Efforts

This research is a collaborative effort involving several departments and institutions, including:

• Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences
• Biomedical Engineering
• Neurology
• Radiology
• The Center for Translational Imaging
• The Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience program
• The Shirley Ryan Ability Lab

Recent Findings

Recent research from Dr. Bright’s lab, published in Frontiers in Physiology (2025), investigated variable cerebral blood flow responsiveness to acute hypoxic hypoxia [2].

Dr. Molly Bright’s Background

Dr. Bright received her B.S. In physics from MIT and her D.Phil. From the University of Oxford. She has held research positions at Cardiff University and the University of Nottingham before joining Northwestern University in 2018 to lead the Applied Neuro-Vascular Imaging Lab [3].

As stated in a recent Northwestern University podcast, Dr. Bright is working to improve imaging of the spinal cord [4].