A new ultra-high-field brain scan method to map brain metabolism with 10.5 T MRI
Official title: Novel 10.5 T deuterium-based MRS/I method to measure brain metabolism
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11536046 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A non-invasive MRI method using an ultra-high 10.5 T scanner aims to map how the human brain processes chemicals in health and disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $112,351 |
| NIH project number | 3R01EB031787-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11536046 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with brain disorders or healthy volunteers who can undergo 10.5 T MRI scanning may be considered for future studies or collaborations.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals unable to undergo high-field MRI or without brain metabolic concerns may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project will develop a non-invasive Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) approach to measure brain metabolism in vivo using a 10.5 T MRI scanner. It will create two complementary techniques, single-voxel spectroscopy and MR spectroscopic imaging, to quantify metabolites and metabolic fluxes across the brain. The work includes rigorous calibration to handle field inhomogeneities and temporal variations, followed by validation of dynamic 1H-MRS methods in a defined brain region. The goal is to provide accurate, region-specific metabolic information that could enhance understanding of brain disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, clinicians could gain a powerful, non-invasive tool to study brain metabolism in disorders and track metabolic changes over time.
How similar studies have gone: Previous high-field MR spectroscopy work has shown the feasibility of measuring brain metabolites, with this project pushing to even higher field and dynamic measurements.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marjanska, Malgorzata — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Marjanska, Malgorzata
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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.