A new brain imaging method for children with head injuries
Point-of-Care Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Children with Head Trauma (BRAINCHILD)
This project is looking at a new, safer type of MRI to check for brain injuries in children who come to the emergency room after hitting their head.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hospital of Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11134696 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Children who experience head trauma often need imaging to check for brain injuries, but current methods like CT scans use radiation. We are exploring a new, portable MRI machine that can be used right at the bedside in the emergency department. This special MRI does not use radiation, making it a potentially safer option for young patients. Our goal is to see how well this new MRI works compared to traditional scans for quickly and accurately finding injuries in children.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children aged 0-17 years who have experienced head trauma and are being seen in an emergency department would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients whose head trauma is not acute or those who do not require immediate neuroimaging in an emergency setting may not directly benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this new imaging method could provide a radiation-free way to quickly and accurately diagnose brain injuries in children, reducing their exposure to harmful radiation.
How similar studies have performed: While conventional MRI is known to be effective, this specific point-of-care, low-field MRI system is a newer technology being tested for its accuracy and feasibility in acute pediatric head trauma.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- Children's Hospital of Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chaudhari, Pradip — Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Chaudhari, Pradip
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.