Evaluating blood quality using ultrasound techniques
Official title: Development of a contact-free assay to evaluate stored blood quality using ultrasound viscoelasticity techniques
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11015056 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to check how good stored blood is by using ultrasound to see how well red blood cells work after being kept for different amounts of time, with the hope of making blood transfusions safer for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $168,858 |
| NIH project number | 5R21EB035312-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11015056 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include patients who require blood transfusions, particularly those in vulnerable populations who may be affected by the quality of stored blood.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not require blood transfusions or those whose conditions do not involve blood quality issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new method to assess the quality of stored blood using ultrasound viscoelasticity techniques. By measuring the physical properties of red blood cells (RBCs), the study aims to determine how well these cells can function after being stored for varying lengths of time. This approach seeks to provide a more accurate evaluation of blood quality than current methods, which rely solely on storage age. The goal is to develop a contact-free assay that can help ensure safer blood transfusions for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved blood transfusion outcomes by allowing for more precise evaluations of blood quality.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of ultrasound techniques in blood quality assessment is innovative, similar approaches in other areas of medical diagnostics have shown promise, suggesting potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karafin, Matthew S — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Karafin, Matthew S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Modulating deep brain activity with focused ultrasound for cocaine use disorder
A study will test whether targeting a deep brain region with focused ultrasound can alter brain signals related to craving in people with cocaine use disorder.
-
Dose-Dependent Brain Wire Modulation with Light Ultrasound in Deep White Matter
A small early study tests whether gentle, noninvasive ultrasound can change how deep brain white matter tracts work in healthy adults.
-
Ultrasound-guided brain circuit targets for treatment-resistant depression
This grant tests whether focused ultrasound can safely and reversibly adjust brain circuits linked to negative mood in people with treatment-resistant depression.
-
Ultrasound biomarkers to diagnose and predict treatment response for plantar heel pain
A study will test advanced ultrasound imaging to find biomarkers that help diagnose plantar heel pain and predict who will respond to targeted treatments.
-
Brain ultrasound and microcirculation to understand early brain development in HIV-exposed uninfected infants
We’re studying how brain ultrasound and blood flow patterns in newborns exposed to HIV and antiretroviral drugs (but not infected) relate to their early neurodevelopment.
-
A 3D ultrasound scanner to see early chemotherapy response in breast cancer
A new 3D ultrasound imaging method will be tested to see if it can quickly show whether breast cancer is responding to chemotherapy.
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.