CapCell imaging to map tissue metabolism and tiny blood vessels
Development of CapCell Scope for Metabolic Imaging of Tissue Heterogeneity and Therapy Response
A new imaging tool that aims to show how cells use nutrients and how small blood vessels look, with the goal of helping people with cancer, brain, or heart conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323037 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are building a portable imaging device called CapCell that can noninvasively picture both metabolic activity and capillary (tiny blood vessel) structure in living tissues. The team will combine optical imaging methods and metabolic contrast approaches to capture both large-scale patterns and local differences in metabolism across tissues, using organoids and animal models as development platforms. The project is focused on creating an easy-to-use system that can be moved from the lab toward clinical use so longitudinal imaging over time becomes more practical. If successful, the device would let clinicians and scientists watch how metabolism and blood flow change during disease or treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with conditions tied to metabolic or vascular changes—for example certain cancers, neurological disorders, or cardiovascular disease—would be most relevant for future studies or trials of this tool.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions do not involve metabolic or blood-vessel changes, or who cannot undergo the specific imaging approach, are unlikely to benefit from this technology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could let clinicians noninvasively see metabolic and vascular changes to help diagnose disease earlier and track how well treatments are working.
How similar studies have performed: Related metabolic and vascular imaging methods have shown promise in animal studies and some early clinical work, but combining wide-field and local metabolic imaging in a single portable platform is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ramanujam, Nirmala — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Ramanujam, Nirmala
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.