Adjunct Professor
Jim Pope
Faculty of Science,
School of Chemistry & Physics
Biography
Research theme: BiophysicsResearch discipline: Physics
Research program: Medical Physics
Research areas:
Development of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques for the study of cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis
We are developing novel MRI techniques for investigation and early diagnosis of osteoarthritis. Interpretation of cartilage MRI data is complicated by the complexity of the tissue. We use MR micro-imaging to investigate the influence of anisotropy of the collagen scaffold on relaxation times (T1 and T2) and on self-diffusion of tissue water. The aim is to develop diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and relaxometry techniques for assessment of structural integrity in cartilage.
Applications of MRI in Eye Research
In the human eye lens, light is refracted continuously as it passes through the lens, but until now it has not been possible to measure the refractive index distribution non-invasively. We have developed novel MRI techniques for measuring the refractive index distribution in the lens and have used it to study how the properties of the lens change with age and state of accommodation. The results provide optometrists with better models of lens aging and a better understanding of changes that occur in presbyopia.
Use of MRI in the assessment of osteoporosis
MRI techniques are being developed to assess the proportions of red (hematopoietic) and yellow (fatty) marrow in trabecular bone and also to monitor changes in bone density. It is hypothesised that changes in the proportions of red and yellow marrow may be a precursor of bone density loss in osteoporosis and consequently may form the basis of a new non-invasive means of both diagnosing osteoporosis and monitoring response to therapy.
Areas of expertise
- Magnetic Resonance Micro-imaging
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
- Biophysics
- Age-related changes in the optics of adult human eyes NH&MRC grant (with DA Atchison and G Smith)
- Magnetic resonance micro-imaging and infrared spectroscopic studies of cartilage degradation during development of osteoarthritis The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation grant (with R. Meder, K. Oloyede, E. Wentrup-Byrne and R. Crawford).
- Application of diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) to the study of cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis.
- Applications of MRI in Eye Research
Personal details
Positions
- Adjunct Professor
Faculty of Science,
School of Chemistry & Physics
Keywords
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), NMR Flow Imaging, NMR Micro-imaging/microscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
Research field
Other Physical Sciences
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2008
Qualifications
- PhD (University of Sussex)
- MSc (University of Bristol)
- BSc (University of Bristol)
- BSc(Hons) (University of Bristol)
Professional memberships and associations
- Fellow - Australian Institute of Physics
- Member - Australian Society for Biophysics
- Member - Institute of Physics (UK)
Teaching
Teaching discipline: Physics
Teaching Areas
- Physics
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Publications
- Pope, J., Sepehrband, F., Suheimat, M., Verkicharla, P., Kasthurirangan, S., Atchison, D. & Adnan, M. (2015). Lens shape and refractive index distribution in type 1 diabetes. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 56(8), 4759–4766. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/92251
- Kasthurirangan, S., Markwell, E., Atchison, D. & Pope, J. (2011). MRI study of the changes in crystalline lens shape with accommodation and aging in humans. Journal of Vision, 11(3), 1–16. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/49189
- De Visser, S., Bowden, J., Wentrup-Byrne, E., Rintoul, L., Bostrom, T., Pope, J. & Momot, K. (2008). Anisotropy of collagen fibre alignment in bovine cartilage: comparison of polarised light microscopy and spatially resolved diffusion-tensor measurements1. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 16(6), 689–697. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/14381
- Kasthurirangan, S., Markwell, E., Atchison, D. & Pope, J. (2008). In vivo study of changes in refractive index distribution in the human crystalline lens with age and accommodation. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 49(6), 2531–2540. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/20183
- De Visser, S., Crawford, R. & Pope, J. (2008). Structural adaptations in compressed articular cartilage measured by diffusion tensor imaging. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 16(1), 83–89. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/30840
- Jones, C., Atchison, D. & Pope, J. (2007). Changes in Lens Dimensions and Refractive Index with Age and Accommodation. Optometry and Vision Science, 84(10), 990–995. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/12529
- Meder, R., De Visser, S., Bowden, J., Bostrom, T. & Pope, J. (2006). Diffusion Tensor Imaging of Articular Cartilage As a Measure of Tissue Microstructure. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 14(9), 875–881. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/23581
- Jones, C., Atchison, D., Meder, R. & Pope, J. (2005). Refractive Index Distribution and Optical Properties of the Isolated Human Lens Measured Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Vision Research, 45(18), 2352–2366. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/5473
- Atchison, D., Jones, C., Schmid, K., Pritchard, N., Pope, J., Strugnell, W. & Riley, R. (2004). Eye Shape in Emmetropia and Myopia. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 45(10), 3380–3386. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/4272
- Moffat, B. & Pope, J. (2002). Anisotropic water transport in the human eye lens studied by diffusion tensor NMR micro-imaging. Experimental Eye Research, 74, 677–687. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/21970
QUT ePrints
For more publications by Jim, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).
Selected research projects
- Title
- Mobility of Water in Cartilage as a Probe of Molecular Structure and Function
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- DP0880346
- Start year
- 2008
- Keywords
- Cartilage; Collagen and Proteoglycans; Osteoarthritis; Diffusion Tensor; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Coarse Grained Simulations
Projects listed above are funded by Australian Competitive Grants. Projects funded from other sources are not listed due to confidentiality agreements.