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.

For additional information, visit Dr. Moody's Sunnybrook Scientist Profile.

Recent Publications

• Bitar R, Moody AR , Leung G, Crisp S, Kiss A, Gladstone DJ, Sahlas DJ, Nelson A, Maggisano R. In vivo identification of upper thoracic aorta and arch vessel complicated plaque (American Heart Association Type VIb/c) by Magnetic Resonance Direct Thrombus Imaging in patients investigated for cerebrovascular disease. American Journal of Roentgenology. 2006 July; 187: 1-7.
• Daniels LR, Gladman JR, Altaf N, Moody AR . Magnetic Resonance Direct Thrombus Imaging in Moderate Carotid Artery Stenosis. Stroke. 2006 Mar;37(3):767-8.2006 Feb 2.
• Bitar R, Leung G, Perng R, Tadros S, Moody A, MacGregror C, Sarrazin J, Symons S, Christakis M, Nelson A, Roberts T. MR pulse sequences: what every radiologist wants to know but is afraid to ask. Radiographics. 2006 Mar-Apr;26(2):513-37.
• Altaf N, Daniels L, Morgan PS, Lowe J, Gladman J, MacSweeney ST, Moody A , Auer DP. Cerebral white matter hyperintense lesions are associated with unstable carotid plaques.
• Bitar R, Gladstone D, Sahlas D, Moody A . MR angiography of subclavian steal syndrome: pitfalls and solutions. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2004 Dec;183(6):1840-1.
• Kelly J, Rudd A, Lewis RR, Coshall C, Palmar K, Moody A , Hunt BJ. Screening for proximal deep vein thrombosis after acute ischemic stroke: a prospective study using clinical factors and plasma D-dimers. J Thromb Haemost. 2004 Aug; 2(8):1321-6.
• Fraser DG, Moody AR , Morgan PS, Martel A. Iliac compression syndrome and recanalization of femoropopliteal and iliac venous thrombosis: a prospective study with magnetic resonance venography. J Vasc Surg. 2004 Oct;40(4):612-9.
• Fraser DG, Moody AR , Martel A, Morgan PS. Re-evaluation of iliac compression syndrome using magnetic resonance imaging in patients with acute deep venous thromboses. J Vasc Surg. 2004 Oct;40(4):604-11.
• Kelly J, Rudd A, Lewis RR, Coshall C, Moody A , Hunt BJ. Venous thromboembolism after acute ischemic stroke: a prospective study using magnetic resonance direct thrombus imaging. Stroke. 2004 Oct;35(10):2320-5.
• van Beek EJ, Wild JM, Fink C, Moody AR , Kauczor HU, Oudkerk M. MRI for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2003 Dec;18(6):627-40.
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14635147&query_hl=26&itool=pubmed_docsum
• Moody AR . Magnetic resonance direct thrombus imaging. J Thromb Haemost. 2003 Jul;1(7):1403-9.
• Murphy RE, Moody AR , Morgan PS, Martel AR, Delay GS, Allder S, MacSweeney ST, Tennant WG, Gladman J, Lowe J, Hunt B. The prevalence of complicated carotid atheroma as detected by Magnetic Resonance Direct Thrombus Imaging in patients with suspected carotid artery stenosis and previous acute cerebral ischaemia. Circulation. 2003 Jun 24;107(24):3053-8.
• Moody AR , Murphy RE, Morgan PS, Martel AL, Delay GS, Allder S, MacSweeney ST, Tennant WG, Gladman J, Lowe J, Hunt BJ. Characterization of complicated carotid plaque with magnetic resonance direct thrombus imaging in patients with cerebral ischemia. Circulation. 2003 Jun 24;107(24):3047-52.
• Kelly J, Hunt BJ, Moody A . Magnetic resonance direct thrombus imaging: a novel technique for imaging venous thromboemboli. Thromb Haemost. 2003 May;89(5):773-82.
• Martel AL, Fraser D, Delay GS, Morgan PS, Moody AR . Separating arterial and venous components from 3D dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI studies using factor analysis. Magn Reson Med 2003 May;49(5):928-33.
• Kelly J, Hunt BJ, Moody A . Images in cardiovascular medicine. Deep vein thrombosis demonstrated by magnetic resonance direct thrombus imaging. Circulation. 2003 Apr 29;107(16):2165.