Better MRI for prostate cancer radiation treatment
Official title: Quantitative MRI to automatically delineate intraprostatic tumor for radiation therapy
Funded at Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope · NIH-11114060 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to create a new MRI tool to precisely locate prostate cancer tumors, helping doctors target radiation therapy more effectively.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Duarte, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $648,830 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA284172-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11114060 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with intermediate- or high-risk prostate cancer who are candidates for radiation therapy might benefit from this improved imaging technique.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with very early-stage prostate cancer or those not undergoing radiation therapy may not directly benefit from this specific imaging advancement.
What this research studies
Prostate cancer is a common cancer in men, and radiation therapy is a key part of its treatment. Currently, it can be challenging to pinpoint the exact location of the tumor within the prostate using standard MRI, which can lead to less effective treatment or unnecessary side effects. This project plans to develop an advanced MRI technique that can automatically create detailed 3D maps of the tumor. These maps will help doctors deliver a higher dose of radiation directly to the cancer while sparing healthy tissue.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this new MRI tool could lead to more precise and effective radiation therapy for prostate cancer, potentially improving treatment outcomes and reducing side effects.
How similar studies have gone: While current MRI methods for prostate tumor identification have limitations, the concept of dose escalation to tumors has shown promise in improving outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
Duarte, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Qing, Kun — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
- Study coordinator: Qing, Kun
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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.