About the cardiovascular MRI research group

The cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) group, under the direction of senior scientist Dr. Graham Wright, is part of the physical sciences platform and the cardiac research program at Sunnybrook Research Institute.

Diseases of the heart and circulation are a major cause of mortality in the western world. During the last 3 decades, the cardiovascular MRI group has focused its research on improving the diagnosis and assessment of cardiovascular diseases, including ischemic and congenital heart disease, and neurovascular and peripheral vascular disease, and on characterizing blood supply associated with cancers, primarily using MRI.

Interventional guidance provides new possibilities to further help in the treatment of patients with cardiac disease. Advances in X-ray, ultrasound, optical and MR-imaging and catheter-based sensors will be integrated to facilitate the following:

• Novel revascularization methods
• Gene and stem cell therapies
• Electrophysiological interventions
• Minimally invasive surgery

We also work to provide the early feedback on success critical to rapid outcome evaluation.