A standardized way to map memory-related brain regions to help diagnose and study dementia
Official title: A harmonized medial temporal lobe subregion segmentation protocol: an essential element for dementia research
Funded at Wayne State University · NIH-11532348 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are creating a harmonized method to precisely map parts of the memory brain region on high-resolution MRI to improve studies of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wayne State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Detroit, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $428,043 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AG070592-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11532348 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with suspected or confirmed Alzheimer's disease dementia or svPPA who undergo high-resolution MRI may benefit from improved imaging analysis.
✕Less likely to help
The protocol development itself does not require patient participation beyond routine MRI scans, and direct benefit to participants is not guaranteed.
What this research studies
This project aims to standardize how we identify and label subregions inside the medial temporal lobe on MRI scans, which is crucial for understanding how Alzheimer's disease and svPPA affect the brain. By harmonizing the segmentation protocol, scientists can compare results across studies more reliably and better align imaging with post-mortem findings. The work will build on existing high-resolution scans and develop validation steps to ensure the method works across different MRI machines and patient groups. If successful, clinicians and researchers could use this protocol to improve the accuracy of brain imaging in dementia patients and in related research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A reliable, standardized brain segmentation method could improve dementia diagnosis and the comparability of imaging studies, potentially guiding better-targeted treatments and research.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier efforts showed progress in harmonizing imaging protocols, but standardization for MTL subregions remains challenging and this project aims to complete that standardization.
Where this research is happening
-
Wayne State University
Detroit, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Daugherty, Ana Marie — Wayne State University
- Study coordinator: Daugherty, Ana Marie
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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.