Diffusion MRI planning to guide larger tumor removal for aggressive brain tumors
dMRI-guided pre-operative planning for supra-total resection of high-gradegliomas
Using advanced diffusion MRI to map brain wiring so surgeons can remove more of aggressive brain tumors while protecting function in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11194996 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would get a specialized diffusion MRI before surgery that maps the brain's white-matter tracts to show how tumor cells spread beyond the visible tumor. The team will use those maps to create a pre-operative plan aimed at a supratotal resection—removing tumor tissue beyond the contrast-enhancing margins while avoiding critical brain pathways. The project pairs University of Pennsylvania research methods with Synaptive's clinical integration tools to bring the maps into surgical planning and navigation. The work focuses on adults with high-grade gliomas who are candidates for surgical removal.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with newly diagnosed or recurrent high-grade glioma who are being considered for surgical resection and for whom extended (supratotal) resection is a possible option.
Not a fit: People whose tumors are located in deep or highly eloquent brain regions where extended resection would cause unacceptable deficits, or those not eligible for surgery, may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let surgeons safely remove more tumor and potentially extend progression-free and overall survival while preserving neurological function.
How similar studies have performed: Previous reports show supratotal resection and tractography-guided surgery can improve progression-free and overall survival, but standardized pre-op diffusion-MRI planning integrated into clinical workflows is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Verma, Ragini — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Verma, Ragini
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.