Advanced imaging and metabolism support for brain tumors

Core C: Imaging Tumor Heterogeneity and Metabolism Core (ITHM)

NIH-funded research University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11192790

This project brings advanced MRI and metabolic imaging to help map differences inside brain tumors for people with glioblastoma or meningioma.

Quick facts

Grant typeP01 program project
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Francisco NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project IDNIH-11192790 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

The core translates research MRI methods so they can be used on clinical scanners and keeps the equipment and software up to date. It helps guide tissue sampling during surgery by linking imaging features to the exact tumor areas surgeons remove. The team processes and visualizes complex multi-parametric scans to show tumor metabolism and heterogeneity, and connects those images to gene-expression results from tumor samples. This service supports multiple research projects and aims to make advanced imaging tools available during clinical care.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with glioblastoma or meningioma who are having MRI scans or planning surgery at UCSF or partner hospitals are the most appropriate candidates.

Not a fit: People without brain tumors, or patients treated outside participating centers who do not receive the specialized imaging or image-guided sampling, are unlikely to benefit directly.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors target surgery and treatments more precisely by showing different tumor regions and their metabolic activity.

How similar studies have performed: Advanced MRI and image-guided biopsy methods have shown promise in prior research, though combining detailed metabolic imaging with gene-expression mapping in routine care is still being refined.

Where this research is happening

San Francisco, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.