Advanced brain MRI to understand thinking and memory in low-grade astrocytoma
Official title: Multimodality Neuroimaging Evaluation of Cognitive Functioning in Lower Grade Astrocytoma
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11173633 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses advanced MRI scans to link brain changes with thinking and quality of life in people with lower-grade astrocytoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 9, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,334,513 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA273028-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11173633 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with lower-grade (WHO grade II–III) astrocytoma who can undergo MRI scanning and complete cognitive testing are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without lower-grade astrocytoma, those with high-grade tumors, or anyone unable to have MRI (for example, due to certain implants) are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
What this research studies
You would have a series of advanced MRI scans—including metabolic (steady-state and dynamic), diffusion, perfusion, and resting-state functional MRI—that measure brain metabolism, blood volume, white matter integrity, and brain network activity. The research team will compare these imaging measures with your performance on thinking and memory tests and with quality-of-life questionnaires. The goal is to find imaging patterns tied to tumor- or treatment-related cognitive problems and to improve how tumors are mapped for care decisions. Finding these patterns could create opportunities to personalize treatments and protect thinking and daily function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors detect brain changes that predict thinking problems and guide treatments to better preserve cognition.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked MR metabolic and structural changes to cognitive decline in lower-grade gliomas, but combining multiple MRI modalities in this way to predict specific deficits is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Yan — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Li, Yan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Targeting epigenetic changes in IDH‑mutant, ATRX‑loss adult astrocytoma
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Targeting tumor metabolism in IDH‑mutant grade 4 astrocytoma
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Understanding how certain brain tumors evade the immune system
This study is looking at how certain brain tumors called astrocytomas, which often affect younger adults, can avoid being attacked by the immune system, and it aims to find new ways to make treatments work better by understanding how these tumors interact with immune cells.
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Targeting metabolic weaknesses in a type of brain tumor called IDH-mutant astrocytoma.
This study is looking for new ways to treat a type of brain tumor called IDH-mutant grade 4 astrocytomas by testing a special drug that targets the tumor's unique weaknesses, with the hope of killing the cancer cells while keeping healthy cells safe.
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Evaluating cognitive function in patients with lower grade astrocytomas using advanced brain imaging techniques.
This study is looking at how special brain scans can help us understand how lower grade astrocytomas affect thinking and memory in patients, with the hope of finding ways to improve their quality of life and support those who might struggle with cognitive issues.
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Investigating a new treatment for recurrent brain tumors using a viral vector and a prodrug.
This study is looking at a new treatment for people with tough brain tumors called glioblastoma or anaplastic astrocytoma, using a special combination of therapies to see if it can help them live longer and fight their tumors better.
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.