Better MRI Scans for Brain Cancer Treatment
Official title: Multi-parametric Perfusion MRI for Therapy Response Assessment in Brain Cancer
Funded at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center · NIH-11249956 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to make MRI scans more accurate at showing how well brain cancer treatments are working for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Phoenix, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $328,637 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3CA247606-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11249956 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with brain cancer currently undergoing or considering therapy who need accurate monitoring of their treatment response would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without brain cancer or those not undergoing active treatment for brain tumors may not directly benefit from this specific imaging improvement.
What this research studies
We are working to improve MRI scans to better predict how brain cancer responds to treatment. Currently, standard MRI can sometimes be unclear, leading to extra procedures like biopsies. This project focuses on advanced MRI techniques, called DSC and DCE MRI, which look at blood flow and permeability in tumors. Our goal is to standardize these advanced MRI methods so they can be used consistently in hospitals and clinical trials, helping doctors make faster and more informed decisions about your care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier and more accurate predictions of how brain cancer treatments are working, potentially reducing the need for invasive biopsies.
How similar studies have gone: While advanced MRI techniques like DSC and DCE have shown promise in smaller studies, this project aims to standardize and validate them for widespread clinical use, addressing current inconsistencies.
Where this research is happening
-
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
Phoenix, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stokes, Ashley M — St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Stokes, Ashley M
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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.