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Cadel Evans turns guinea pig for medical research by riding inside MRI scanner

Researchers hope experiment will lead to improved treatment for patients with heart and lung disease

Former world champion and 2011 Tour de France winner Cadel Evans is to turn guinea pig by riding his bike inside an Magnetic Resonance Imagining (MRI) scanner to give researchers a benchmark of the effect of exercise on an elite athlete’s heart and lungs.

Researchers hope that obtaining an insight into how Evans’ cardiopulmanory system deals with physical exertion will help improve treatment for patients suffering from heart and lung disease.

Siemens, the manufacturer of the Magnetom Aera MRI scanner that will be used in the experiment to be undertaken at The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH) in Brisbane say that it is the first time MRI imaging will be combined with an MRI bicycle ergometer.

The study is being led by Associate Professor Christian Hamilton-Craig, who says: “This advanced MRI scanning provides us with incredibly detailed images of the heart, and does so in the shortest possible time, even while the patient is still exercising inside the scanner.

He went on: “Exercise research on patients with heart and lung disease is being achieved through Siemens’ leadership in MRI technology, teamed with our hospital’s clinical and research expertise in the cardiopulmonary arena.

“The results are likely to change the way we diagnose and treat people with heart and lung disease. Scans will help inform us when the patient may need open heart surgery, a heart or lung transplant, or whether medications are working for the patient.

“By combining the very latest imaging technology, patient comfort and new imaging research software, this research provides the most detailed cardiac images in the shortest time.”

Evans, aged 36, said: “Through my work with Siemens, if I can raise awareness about how technology can better understand heart and lung disease and lead to improved treatments, then I know I’m helping reduce the strain on our hospitals for a more sustainable healthcare system.”

In January 2012, Evans and wife Chiara, who have homes in Switzerland and Australia, adopted a one-year old Ethiopian boy, Robel, who had been abandoned at the age of six months.

The BMC Racing rider reflected: “Since becoming a dad I’m very conscious about my health, and of ensuring that Australia has the best quality healthcare system for the future.

“Heart Foundation of Australia figures show that one person dies from heart or lung disease every 24 minutes – about the same time it takes me to complete a short time trial. 

“I hope this technology and research will ultimately save lives.”

David Brown, vice president for imaging and clinical products at Siemens Australia, added: “This is the only facility in Australia where the technology can capture clear images of the heart at ultra-fast speed while exercising - similar to using a camera in ‘sports-mode’.

“Through our research partnership, the hospital is using the latest Siemens software which delivers high speed imaging. The patient-friendly design of our MRI scanner means there is enough room for a patient to pedal while being scanned.”

Since becoming the first Australian winner of the Tour de France two years ago, Evans has struggled to recapture that form.

His best result in a Grand Tour since then came in May's Giro d'Italia, where he finished third behind Astana's Vincenzo Nibali and Rigoberto Uran of Team Sky.

Evans was joined on the podium in Brescia by his son Robel (pictured).

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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8 comments

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jarredscycling | 10 years ago
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Maybe I am confused but I just assumed he would be riding a stationary bike or a turbo for the test? It would seem rather difficult to effectively ride a bike inside of an MRI machine and glean any useful data

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BMC_rider | 10 years ago
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There's some photos here:

http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/city/cadel-evans-goes-to-a-north...

There aren't MRI machines big enough to actually cycle inside since the magnetic fields needed for good images are huge and decrease rapidly with the distance from the magnet. Also you have to stay pretty still, the photos show his chest is strapped down to the bed.

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nod | 10 years ago
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I'm thinking not a static bike, as it's probably easier to use his current bike with *even* more carbon bits and a few Ti bolts. They'll probably put him on some sort of turbo.

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60kg lean keen ... | 10 years ago
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It not the scanner size that makes me think how, but what type of bike he will ride for this experiment? It will have to be very clever – totally plastic - carbon no ferrous metals, as any thing ferrous will rip its self free and go for the centre of the toroidal ring magnet! This is not good, the magnets in these things are strong, very strong and any lose metals or those ripped free will go to the centre of the magnetic field and will do you damage if you are in the way!!!

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aslongasicycle | 10 years ago
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Yep, same questions.

This MRI scanner must be HUGE!

And the bike will have to be specially made without metal, surely? That sounds like a technical feat in itself. Flicking interesting. Documentary please.

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BMC_rider | 10 years ago
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Its not very big and definitely not made from steel. It's probably this design or at least something pretty close:

http://www.biomedical-engineering-online.com/content/pdf/1475-925X-11-13...

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nowasps | 10 years ago
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So how big is this thing? What sort of speeds will he reach travelling from one end of it to the other?

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notfastenough replied to nowasps | 10 years ago
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nowasps wrote:

So how big is this thing? What sort of speeds will he reach travelling from one end of it to the other?

Interesting how different people read the same article with a different impression - I assumed this would be on a static bike, but actually, that isn't stated. I can't believe he would be in motion though. They'd end up running the experiments in the LHC!

As mentioned by others, there are some serious technical aspects to this. I would assume that it would be easier to produce a static bike within these constraints than a fully rideable, moving bike.

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