Filippi M, Tedeschi G, Pantano P, De Stefano N, Zaratin P, Rocca M A
Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy.
Department of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
Neurol Sci. 2017 Jun;38(6):1029-1038. doi: 10.1007/s10072-017-2903-z. Epub 2017 Mar 14.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important paraclinical tool to diagnose and monitor multiple sclerosis (MS). Conventional MRI measures lack of pathological specificity and are weakly correlated with MS clinical manifestations. Advanced MRI techniques are improving the understanding of the mechanisms underlying tissue injury, repair, and functional adaptation in MS; however, they require careful standardization. The definition of standardized methods for the collection and analysis of advanced MRI techniques is central not only to improve the understanding of disease pathophysiology and evolution, but also to generate research hypotheses, monitor treatment, increase cost-effectiveness and power of clinical trials. We promoted the Italian Neuroimaging Network Initiative (INNI), involving centers and investigators with an International recognized expertise, with the major goal to determine and validate novel MRI biomarkers to be utilized as predictors and/or outcomes in future MS studies. The INNI initiative supported the creation of a centralized repository, where advanced structural and functional MRI scans available at the participating sites, with the related clinical and neuropsychological data, are collected. These data will be used to perform research studies to identify clinical, neuropsychological and imaging biomarkers characteristics of the entire spectrum of MS. INNI will be instrumental to help to define standardized MRI and clinical protocols towards an increasing uptake of personalized interventions for people with MS at a national and international level. Upon approval of the INNI Steering Committee, the data collected in the online database will be shared with any research center detailing specific research proposals on disease pathophysiology or treatment effects.
磁共振成像（MRI）是诊断和监测多发性硬化症（MS）的重要临床辅助工具。传统的MRI测量缺乏病理特异性，且与MS临床表现的相关性较弱。先进的MRI技术正在加深我们对MS中组织损伤、修复和功能适应潜在机制的理解；然而，它们需要仔细的标准化。先进MRI技术采集和分析的标准化方法的定义不仅对于增进对疾病病理生理学和演变的理解至关重要，而且对于提出研究假设、监测治疗、提高临床试验的成本效益和效能也至关重要。我们推动了意大利神经影像网络倡议（INNI），该倡议汇聚了具有国际公认专业知识的中心和研究人员，其主要目标是确定和验证新型MRI生物标志物，以便在未来的MS研究中用作预测指标和/或结果指标。INNI倡议支持创建一个集中式存储库，收集参与站点提供的先进结构和功能MRI扫描数据以及相关的临床和神经心理学数据。这些数据将用于开展研究，以确定MS全谱的临床、神经心理学和影像生物标志物特征。INNI将有助于在国家和国际层面定义标准化的MRI和临床方案，从而促进对MS患者采用个性化干预措施。经INNI指导委员会批准后，在线数据库中收集的数据将与任何详细阐述有关疾病病理生理学或治疗效果具体研究提案的研究中心共享。
