We are delighted to celebrate a new publication from Midlands MHN DTP fellow Anna Bangiri, whose latest research has been published in Frontiers in Neuroscience. The paper,“Comparison of subject-to-template registration schemes using CT and MR radiotherapy images with brain lesions”, makes an important contribution to the field of neuroimaging and radiotherapy research.
Anna’s study addresses a key methodological challenge in brain imaging: how best to align medical images from patients with brain lesions to a common template space for voxel-based analyses. As advanced imaging techniques become increasingly important in radiotherapy research, ensuring accurate image registration is essential for producing reliable and meaningful results.
Using CT and MR brain images from 85 participants in the CoDe-B-Rad study, the research compared eight different image registration approaches and introduced a novel Dual-Template registration scheme that combines information from both CT and MRI. This innovative approach was developed to improve the accuracy of image alignment while minimising distortions caused by brain lesions and treatment-related anatomical changes.
The findings demonstrated that the Dual-Template non-linear registration scheme consistently performed better than alternative approaches. It provided improved preservation of both soft tissue structures and skull anatomy, offering a robust foundation for future voxel-based analyses in radiotherapy research. The study highlights how carefully designed imaging methodologies can strengthen the reliability of research investigating treatment outcomes and the effects of radiotherapy on the brain.
This publication reflects the interdisciplinary nature of Anna’s work, bringing together expertise in medical imaging, neuroscience, radiotherapy and clinical research. Conducted through collaboration between the University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, and the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, the research demonstrates the value of partnerships in addressing complex clinical and methodological questions.
The work also has important implications for future research. By improving the way brain images are registered and analysed, researchers can gain greater confidence in identifying associations between radiotherapy, brain structure and patient outcomes. As voxel-based techniques continue to grow in importance, methodological advances such as those developed by Anna will help ensure that future studies are built on accurate and reproducible foundations.
This achievement highlights the MHN DTP’s commitment to supporting innovative, technically rigorous research that has the potential to improve healthcare and patient outcomes. Anna’s publication showcases the impact that methodological excellence can have in advancing neuroscience and clinical imaging research.
We congratulate Anna Bangiri on this significant achievement and look forward to seeing the continued impact of her research.
📖 Bangiri A, Thust S, Morgan P, Pszczolkowski Parraguez S (2026), Comparison of subject-to-template registration schemes using CT and MR radiotherapy images with brain lesions, Frontiers in Neuroscience.
🗓️ Published: July 2026