Computer help to spot lung nodules on children's CT scans
Official title: Pediatric-specific computer aided detection of pulmonary nodules in computed tomography scans
Funded at University of Dayton · NIH-11239792 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will build a computer tool to help doctors find lung nodules on chest CT scans for children and young adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Dayton NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dayton, United States) |
| Project start | December 3, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $75,200 |
| NIH project number | 5R03EB036572-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11239792 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and young adults who are receiving chest CT scans because of known or suspected cancer or follow-up for possible lung metastases.
✕Less likely to help
Adults outside the pediatric age range, people without chest CT scans, or those with lung conditions unrelated to nodules are unlikely to benefit from this specific tool.
What this research studies
If my child has cancer, doctors use chest CT scans to look for lung nodules that may show the cancer has spread. This project will create a pediatric-specific computer-aided detection program trained on children's CT images to flag likely nodules and reduce missed findings. The team will compare the new pediatric tool to existing adult-based algorithms and measure how well it highlights clinically important nodules. The aim is to give radiologists a reliable second set of eyes to improve staging and treatment planning for young patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tool could help find more true lung nodules earlier, improving cancer staging and treatment decisions for children and young adults.
How similar studies have gone: Computer-aided detection tools exist for adult chest CTs and have improved nodule detection in some studies, but pediatric-specific CAD systems are new and largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Dayton
Dayton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hardie, Russell — University of Dayton
- Study coordinator: Hardie, Russell
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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.