Creating a new tool to help plan brain surgery for tumor removal
Official title: Development of an innovative neurosurgical planning tool for awake craniotomy
Funded at Mindtrace Technologies, INC. · NIH-10906786 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new online tool to help neurosurgeons plan and perform awake brain surgeries for tumor removal, making it easier for them to tell the difference between healthy brain tissue and tumors, which could lead to better results for patients like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mindtrace Technologies, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $922,418 |
| NIH project number | 5R44MH135726-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10906786 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with brain tumors who require surgical intervention.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-tumor-related neurological conditions or those not requiring surgery may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a cloud-based software platform designed to assist neurosurgeons in planning and executing awake craniotomies for brain tumor removal. The tool aims to enhance the surgeon's ability to differentiate between healthy brain tissue and tumor-invaded areas, thereby maximizing the extent of safe surgical resection while minimizing cognitive impairments. By integrating pre-operative behavioral data and brain scans, the platform will help clinical teams select the most effective mapping tasks during surgery. This innovative approach seeks to improve patient outcomes by providing real-time insights into brain function during surgical procedures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer brain surgeries with better preservation of cognitive functions for patients undergoing tumor removal.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using technology to enhance surgical planning and outcomes, making this approach a potentially significant advancement in neurosurgery.
Where this research is happening
-
Mindtrace Technologies, INC.
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sims, Maxwell Harrison — Mindtrace Technologies, INC.
- Study coordinator: Sims, Maxwell Harrison
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.