Advanced brain imaging after proton therapy in kids with brain tumors
Official title: Advanced Neurovascular Imaging Using 7T MRI to Assess Long-Term Effects of Proton Radiotherapy in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11447207 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how advanced 7T MRI imaging can show long-term blood vessel and brain changes in children who have had proton radiotherapy for brain tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $702,330 |
| NIH project number | 1R37CA309465-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11447207 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are pediatric brain tumor survivors who received craniospinal irradiation with proton therapy and are in follow-up care.
✕Less likely to help
Very young children or patients without a history of proton radiotherapy or craniospinal irradiation may not benefit.
What this research studies
Young patients who survived high-grade pediatric brain tumors often receive proton radiotherapy to spare healthy tissue. The study will use high-resolution 7T MRI techniques to look for neurovascular injury, microbleeds, and signs of atherosclerosis years after treatment. By comparing imaging findings over time, researchers hope to better understand how proton therapy affects the developing brain and blood vessels. This knowledge could guide future therapy choices and long-term care for survivors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could improve how we monitor and protect brain blood vessels in children treated for brain tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Similar imaging approaches have shown promise in detecting treatment-related brain changes, but the long-term benefits of proton therapy on neurovascular health remain to be proven.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jaimes Cobos, Camilo — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Jaimes Cobos, Camilo
Related research
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Proton vs. x-ray brain radiation: effects on thinking, symptoms, and daily life in children with brain tumors
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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.