Fast 3D heart MRI to pinpoint types of cardiomyopathy

3D Cine Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting for Rapid Phenotyping of Cardiomyopathy

NIH-funded research Case Western Reserve University · NIH-11103274

This project uses a five-minute, free-breathing 3D MRI scan that creates detailed heart tissue maps to help adults with cardiomyopathy get quicker, clearer diagnoses.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionCase Western Reserve University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Cleveland, United States)
Project IDNIH-11103274 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would have a short (about five-minute), free-breathing MRI scan of your whole heart done before and after a standard contrast injection. The scan produces quantitative maps of heart tissue (T1, T2, and proton density) and can create conventional-looking images so doctors can see structure, motion, and scarring. The team aims to replace long, multi-part MRI exams with one fast, reproducible scan that works without breath-holding or complex timing. Results will be compared with current MRI methods to check accuracy and consistency across patients.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults with suspected or known cardiomyopathy who can safely undergo MRI and receive gadolinium contrast are the best fit for participation.

Not a fit: People with MRI-incompatible implants, severe kidney dysfunction that prevents contrast use, claustrophobia that cannot be managed, or children under the age cutoff may not benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could shorten cardiac MRI visits, reduce uncomfortable breath-holding, and give faster, more reliable information to guide treatment for people with cardiomyopathy.

How similar studies have performed: Earlier magnetic resonance fingerprinting work has shown promising results for measuring heart tissue properties, but a rapid, whole-heart 3D free-breathing approach like this remains relatively new and is still being validated.

Where this research is happening

Cleveland, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Cardiac Diseases
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.