Multi-contrast generation and quantitative MRI using a transformer-based framework with RF excitation embeddings
Nagar D, Ifrah S, Finkelstein A, Vladimirov N, Zaiß M, Perlman O (2026)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2026
Journal
Book Volume: 9
Article Number: 102
Journal Issue: 1
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-09371-3
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) relies on radiofrequency (RF) excitation of proton spin. Clinical diagnosis requires a comprehensive collation of biophysical data via multiple MRI contrasts, acquired using a series of RF sequences that lead to lengthy examinations. Here, we developed a vision transformer-based framework that explicitly utilizes RF excitation information alongside per-subject calibration data (acquired within 28.2 s), to generate a wide variety of image contrasts including fully quantitative molecular, water relaxation, and magnetic field maps. The method was validated across healthy subjects and a cancer patient in two different imaging sites, and proved to be 94% faster than alternative protocols. The transformer-based MRI framework (TBMF) may support the efforts to reveal the molecular composition of the human brain tissue in a wide range of pathologies, while offering clinically attractive scan times.
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Israel (IL)How to cite
APA:
Nagar, D., Ifrah, S., Finkelstein, A., Vladimirov, N., Zaiß, M., & Perlman, O. (2026). Multi-contrast generation and quantitative MRI using a transformer-based framework with RF excitation embeddings. Communications Biology, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-09371-3
MLA:
Nagar, Dinor, et al. "Multi-contrast generation and quantitative MRI using a transformer-based framework with RF excitation embeddings." Communications Biology 9.1 (2026).
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