AI tools to improve understanding of infants' brain development
Leveraging artificial intelligence to develop novel tools for studying infant brain development
This project builds AI tools to make MRI scans of babies' brains easier to analyze and to help spot early signs of developmental delays in infants up to two years old.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324922 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As a parent, this project uses artificial intelligence to create better tools for analyzing MRI scans of babies' brains across the first two years of life. The team will train AI models on infant MRI data to automate the critical step of brain segmentation so scans can be measured more accurately and quickly. By improving accuracy and reducing manual work, the project aims to make large infant MRI datasets easier to use and comparable across sites. That could help researchers identify early patterns linked to later developmental delays and guide future clinical efforts.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are infants up to 24 months old who can safely undergo non-invasive MRI scans, including typically developing babies and those at higher risk for developmental delays.
Not a fit: Older children, adults, or infants who cannot receive MRI scans (for example due to implants or medical instability) are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these AI tools could help detect early signs of developmental delays sooner and speed research toward better early interventions.
How similar studies have performed: AI has improved MRI analysis in adults and older children, but automated segmentation of rapidly changing infant brains is newer and less proven.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Yun — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Wang, Yun
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 below.