AI-powered scoring of sinus CT scans to guide CRS care
Official title: AI-Powered Quantitative Analysis of Sinus CT Scans for Enhanced Clinical Assessment and Research
Funded at Towson University · NIH-11424926 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new AI-based system analyzes sinus CTs to give quick, objective measurements that reflect how CRS affects breathing and patient health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Towson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Towson, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $211,406 |
| NIH project number | 1R16EB039671-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11424926 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis who undergo sinus CT imaging and consent to use their de-identified scans for AI development.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose scans are not used for research or whose conditions are not CRS may not benefit from this tool.
What this research studies
Crucial CRS care relies on CT scans, but current scoring is subjective. This project builds AIRS, an AI tool that automatically segments sinus anatomy, measures disease burden, and links these findings to physiologic indicators like airflow resistance. It also uses a secure cloud platform so researchers can access standardized results. The goal is to provide clinicians with reliable, repeatable imaging measurements that better reflect patient outcomes and guide treatment decisions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, AIRS could make CRS evaluation more precise and patient-specific, potentially improving treatment choices and monitoring.
How similar studies have gone: Previous AI imaging tools have shown promise in standardizing measurements, but this project uniquely combines AI with physiologic CFD biomarkers for CRS.
Where this research is happening
-
Towson University
Towson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Lei — Towson University
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Lei
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.