Connecting MRI scans with brain tissue findings for TBI-related and vascular memory problems
An Acquisition and Analysis Pipeline for Integrating MRI and Neuropathology in TBI-related Dementia and VCID
This project builds MRI methods and software to match brain scans with tissue changes to help people with past traumatic brain injury or vascular-related memory loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169917 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or a loved one have had a head injury or are experiencing vascular-related memory problems, this project aims to link the pictures doctors take of the living brain with the actual tissue changes seen after death. The team will develop and share special MRI scan settings and computer tools, scan donated brains after death, and compare those images to detailed tissue studies in three dimensions. They will also work to translate those findings back to live-patient MRI maps so clinicians can better spot early signs of damage. The tools and protocols will be documented and distributed so other hospitals can use them.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a history of traumatic brain injury or signs of vascular cognitive impairment who can access participating sites, undergo advanced MRI, or agree to brain donation are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without TBI or vascular-related cognitive problems, or those unwilling/unable to have advanced MRI or participate in tissue donation, are unlikely to gain direct benefit from joining this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make MRI scans more accurate at showing the underlying causes of cognitive decline and improve diagnosis and tracking of TBI-related and vascular dementias.
How similar studies have performed: Previous postmortem MRI-to-pathology comparisons have validated some imaging markers, but this comprehensive 3D acquisition-and-analysis pipeline is relatively new and broader in scope.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Der Kouwe, Andre Jan Willem — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Van Der Kouwe, Andre Jan Willem
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.