Better MRI Scans for Brain Cancer Treatment

Multi-parametric Perfusion MRI for Therapy Response Assessment in Brain Cancer

NIH-funded research St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center · NIH-11249956

This project aims to make MRI scans more accurate at showing how well brain cancer treatments are working for patients.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSt. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Phoenix, United States)
Project IDNIH-11249956 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Patients with brain cancer currently undergoing or considering therapy who need accurate monitoring of their treatment response would be ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients without brain cancer or those not undergoing active treatment for brain tumors may not directly benefit from this specific imaging improvement.

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 performed: 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

Phoenix, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.