Automated MRI spectroscopy for clearer brain tumor metabolic scans
Official title: Full-stack automation for reliable and reproducible MRS of brain cancer
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11177633 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will build automated MRI tools that help doctors get reliable metabolic scans of brain tumors for adults during routine MRI appointments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 8, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $457,465 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB034231-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11177633 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) with suspected or confirmed brain tumors who can safely undergo MRI at participating sites would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Children, people without brain tumors, or anyone who cannot safely have an MRI (for example due to certain implants or severe claustrophobia) would not directly benefit from this work.
What this research studies
You would get an MRI sequence that automatically picks the best spot in the tumor and collects metabolic data without needing a spectroscopy expert at the scanner. The team will develop real-time automation for voxel placement, data collection, and automatic quantification, and integrate these tools with clinical MRI machines. They will test the automated methods in live patients with brain tumors to check reliability and performance. If successful, the software will be shared openly so other hospitals can use it.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could make metabolic MRI scans faster and more consistent, helping doctors better characterize tumors and monitor treatment response.
How similar studies have gone: MRS has been useful at specialized centers, but automating single-voxel spectroscopy for routine clinical use is relatively new and not yet widely adopted.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marjanska, Malgorzata — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Marjanska, Malgorzata
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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.