Post-doc subject : Prediction of rupture risk in abdominal aortic aneurysm from MR images without contrast agent.

Surgical intervention for abdominal aortic aneurysm is appropriate when the cumulative risk for rupture exceeds risk for repair. Currently, the recommendation for intervention is generally based on aortic diameter. However, large clinical trials have shown that this parameter is not always reliable. In an ongoing project at the Université de Bourgogne, associated with the University Hospital of Dijon, an evaluation of aortic wall stress (in the case of abdominal aortic aneurysm) is performed from morphological and functional parameters acquired via MRI. The use of cine-MR sequences without injection of contrast agent allows a deformable 3D representation of the aorta. Other sequences allow the evaluation of specific morphological or functional (such as blood velocity) parameters. The stress distribution along the aorta may be calculated from these parameters, in order to predict the rupture risk. In the framework of this project, we are seeking to recruit a postdoctoral researcher for, firstly, the 3D-4D representation of the aorta, and secondly for the determination of stress zones on this representation.

Prospective applicants should have a good background in image processing, in medical imaging (in particular in MRI), as well as strong programming skills in C/C++, and hold a PhD.

Application
For more information or to apply, email your cover letter, CV and 2 references to yvon.voisin[ at ]u-bourgogne.fr

Deadline: 15 November 2007