Early lung screening after pediatric stem-cell transplant using inhaled xenon MRI
Official title: Early detection of pulmonary complications of hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation in children using hyperpolarized xenon MRI
Funded at Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr · NIH-11257352 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This tests a special inhaled xenon MRI scan to find early lung problems in children who have had a hematopoietic stem-cell transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $691,296 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL166335-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11257352 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children and adolescents who have recently undergone hematopoietic stem-cell transplant, especially those too young or unable to perform conventional breathing tests.
✕Less likely to help
People without a history of stem-cell transplant, those with purely infectious lung problems unrelated to transplant, or individuals unable to undergo MRI or inhale the study gas may not benefit from this work.
What this research studies
If my child has had a stem-cell transplant, this project would use a safe, inhaled form of xenon gas and MRI to make pictures of how air moves and how oxygen crosses into the blood in the lungs. The team is adapting this hyperpolarized xenon-129 MRI so very young children who cannot do standard breathing tests can still have detailed lung checks. They will develop and refine the gas-exchange imaging methods and test whether the scans detect small airway, tissue, or blood-vessel problems early after transplant. The approach aims to give a clear, noninvasive picture of lung health across different parts of the lung over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could find lung injury earlier so doctors can intervene sooner and help prevent irreversible lung damage and death.
How similar studies have gone: Early adult and small pediatric studies using hyperpolarized xenon MRI have shown promise for detecting ventilation and gas-exchange problems, but using it specifically for early post-HSCT lung injury in very young children is a newer application.
Where this research is happening
-
Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Walkup, Laura Lee — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Walkup, Laura Lee
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Gentle electrical stimulation to keep muscles strong during stem cell transplant
This project uses small, gentle electrical pulses to try to help Veterans keep muscle strength and reduce fatigue during and after stem cell transplants for blood cancers.
-
Inpatient yoga therapy for cancer patients undergoing stem cell transplant
A randomized trial will test whether an inpatient yoga program helps people receiving stem cell transplants feel better and cope with treatment.
-
A structured peer support program for people having stem cell transplants
A brief, supportive, phone-based peer program for adults with blood cancers undergoing stem cell transplant to help manage stress and improve recovery.
-
T Cell Precursors to Restore Immune Power After Stem Cell Transplants
This grant supports a patient-friendly approach to speed up immune recovery after a stem cell transplant by giving patients donor‑made T cell precursors that mature into healthy immune cells.
-
Engineering patient avatars to study GVHD after bone marrow transplant
Researchers are creating patient-specific lab models of the gut, liver, and blood to better understand and prevent GVHD after bone marrow transplant, with a focus on children.
-
Optimizing stem cell transplants to treat non-malignant blood diseases
A researcher is pursuing a five-year plan to improve stem cell transplantation strategies for non-cancer blood illnesses, with a focus on safer conditioning, better stem cell collection, and gene editing.
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.