Dissolved Phase Hyperpolarized Xenon-129 MRI to spot early lung changes in young e-cigarette users
Official title: Dissolved Phase Hyperpolarized Xenon-129 MRI: a novel biomarker to quantify pulmonary pathology in young healthy e-cigarette users
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11537587 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new imaging technique using dissolved-phase hyperpolarized Xenon-129 MRI looks for early lung changes in young healthy people who use e-cigarettes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $730,756 |
| NIH project number | 7R01DA059660-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11537587 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Healthy young adults who use e-cigarettes and have normal standard lung function tests.
✕Less likely to help
People without e-cigarette exposure or those with established lung disease may not benefit from this imaging biomarker.
What this research studies
This project uses an advanced MRI method to quantify how e-cigarette use may disrupt lung tissue and blood vessel function in the early days of exposure. By focusing on gas exchange in specific lung compartments, it aims to reveal subtle, early pathologies that standard tests might miss. The study builds on prior pilot data showing dysregulated gas exchange in young e-cigarette users with normal traditional lung tests. Researchers will optimize and apply the 3D HXeMRI technique to detect regional changes in airway, interstitial tissues, and capillary function. The effort seeks to establish a new imaging biomarker that could signal early lung health impact from vaping before symptoms arise.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this imaging biomarker could enable earlier detection and monitoring of vaping-related lung changes, potentially guiding prevention and intervention.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier pilot work suggests HXeMRI can detect subtle lung changes in young e-cigarette users, supporting potential for broader findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shim, Yun Michael — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Shim, Yun Michael
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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.