Clearer cone‑beam CT images for better visualization during radiation treatment
Official title: Improving quantitative accuracy and tissue visualization in CBCT guided radiation therapy
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11179179 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tries a new two‑dimensional anti‑scatter grid to make cone‑beam CT scans clearer for people having radiation therapy for cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 15, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $161,927 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA245270-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11179179 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people receiving cone‑beam CT–guided radiation therapy for cancer, especially when tumors or nearby organs are soft tissues (for example in the head and neck, abdomen, or pelvis).
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not treated with CBCT‑guided radiation therapy or whose care relies on other imaging methods (like MRI or PET) may not see direct benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers are developing a novel 2D anti‑scatter grid that attaches to cone‑beam CT scanners to reduce scattered radiation that blurs images. The device is designed to let more useful X‑ray signal through while blocking scatter, which should improve contrast and CT number accuracy. The team will test the grid in the lab and with clinical imaging workflows and compare image quality and dose‑calculation performance to current systems. Better images could help clinicians track anatomical changes during the course of radiation treatment and guide personalized adjustments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give doctors clearer images of soft tissues during treatment, enabling more accurate targeting and personalized treatment adjustments.
How similar studies have gone: Prior software corrections and conventional antiscatter grids have improved CBCT quality to a degree, but this optimized two‑dimensional grid is a newer hardware approach seeking larger gains.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Altunbas, Cem — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Altunbas, Cem
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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.