Advanced MRI mapping to outline glioblastoma margins and spread
Official title: Quantitative Glioblastoma Margin and Infiltration Mapping with Advanced Diffusion-Relaxation MRI
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11372842 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aim: use new MRI techniques to better map how glioblastomas grow and spread in the brain to guide surgery and treatment for adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $728,979 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS125781-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372842 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with suspected or confirmed glioblastoma (brain tumor) who are undergoing imaging as part of standard care.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without brain tumors or those not undergoing MRI-based planning may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests innovative MRI methods to more precisely define where a glioblastoma tumor ends and where it infiltrates surrounding brain tissue. By validating advanced diffusion and relaxation MRI measures, doctors hope to create personalized maps of tumor margins. The goal is to help surgeons remove the right amount of brain tissue and to plan radiation or drug delivery more accurately. Patients would benefit from more targeted treatment planning based on clearer tumor boundaries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more precise surgical resections and radiation plans, potentially improving outcomes and reducing damage to healthy brain tissue.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows that advanced MRI techniques can provide deeper insight into brain microstructure, with ongoing validation needed for clinical adoption.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Westin, Carl-Fredrik — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Westin, Carl-Fredrik
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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.