Creating a new imaging tool to study metabolism in tissues and how they respond to treatment
Official title: Development of CapCell Scope for Metabolic Imaging of Tissue Heterogeneity and Therapy Response
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11141209 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new imaging tool called CapCell that helps doctors see how cancer treatments affect the metabolism of tissues without needing any invasive procedures, making it easier to understand how well the treatments are working.
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 start | July 18, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $591,384 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB028148-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11141209 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing treatment for cancer or other metabolic conditions who may benefit from improved imaging techniques.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable conditions that do not involve metabolic changes or those not undergoing treatment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel imaging platform called CapCell that allows for non-invasive observation of metabolic changes in tissues. By utilizing advanced optical imaging techniques, the study aims to quantify how cellular metabolism shifts in response to different therapies, particularly in cancer treatment. The approach seeks to improve access to metabolic imaging by enabling studies to be conducted in various settings, from laboratories to clinical environments, without the need for specialized facilities. This could enhance our understanding of how tissues respond to treatments over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better diagnostic tools and treatment monitoring for patients with metabolic disorders or cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using advanced imaging techniques for metabolic studies, indicating that this approach could yield significant insights.
Where this research is happening
-
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.