Developing a portable MRI device for brain monitoring
Official title: Technology for MR brain monitoring
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10880983 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new, easy-to-use MRI cap that can be placed on your bed to keep an eye on your brain health in emergency situations, helping doctors quickly spot any serious issues like swelling or bleeding.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $629,495 |
| NIH project number | 1R01EB034902-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10880983 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients experiencing acute neurological conditions, such as brain injuries or strokes, particularly in emergency or critical care settings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable neurological conditions or those not requiring immediate monitoring may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating a lightweight, portable MRI device designed for continuous brain monitoring in critical care settings. The device, known as the 'MR Cap', can be placed directly on the patient's bed and will take regular imaging to detect changes in brain conditions, such as increased intracranial pressure or bleeding. By using a novel approach that relaxes traditional MRI constraints, this technology aims to provide timely and accurate monitoring in locations where conventional MRI machines are impractical, such as emergency departments and ambulances.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the ability to monitor brain conditions in real-time, leading to faster and more effective treatment for patients with neurological emergencies.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in developing portable imaging technologies, but this specific approach to continuous MRI monitoring is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wald, Lawrence L — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Wald, Lawrence L
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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.