We can keep doing everyday activities almost forever. This requires that our body constantly adapts to the required energy demand. Unfortunately, this well balanced physiological system breaks in various neuromuscular diseases and stops patients from keep moving.
While the basic biochemical pathways for generating ATP, i.e., the fuel of our cells, are well described the metabolic regulation of whole muscles is much less understood. Professor Jeneson from the University of Groningen has developed measurement protocols to non-invasively monitor the metabolic behaviour of whole muscles based on magnetic resonance spectroscopy in healthy subjects and patients. His recent study ‘Magnetic resonance reveals mitochondrial dysfunction and muscle remodelling in spinal muscular atrophy’ has proven that magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can provide clinically useful biomarkers to track the metabolic state of patients.
However, various important pieces of information cannot be directly assessed with the experimental set up. Our joint vision is to make such hidden information visible by augmenting the clinically available MRS data with computer simulations.
In November 2021, Professor Jeneson and researchers from IMSB have met in Stuttgart. In an extensive three day long hands on session we have worked together on developing the required simulation framework and brought us a small piece closer to make our vision come true.