Faster, more detailed lung MRI using new laser technology
Next-generation Lasers for Enabling Ultrafast Functional Pulmonary MRI
New laser-based MRI methods seek to produce much faster, detailed lung scans for people with lung disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wayne State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Detroit, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176953 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would breathe a safe, hyperpolarized gas and hold your breath while a new laser-enhanced MRI system captures 3D images of how air moves and exchanges in your lungs in a fraction of the time current scans take. Researchers are building next-generation laser hardware and fast imaging sequences to pair with Xenon-129 gas MRI to measure ventilation, diffusion, and gas exchange. They will test prototypes in the lab and develop human-compatible imaging workflows to speed scans and improve resolution. Faster, high-resolution functional images could help spot and monitor problems from COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and Long COVID.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults with chronic lung conditions (COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis) or people with persistent breath symptoms after COVID-19 who can tolerate a brief breath-hold and inhalation of an imaging gas.
Not a fit: People who cannot hold their breath, cannot inhale the imaging gas, have standard MRI contraindications (like certain implants), or live far from participating sites may not be able to take part or benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make lung function scans faster and more widely available, improving diagnosis and monitoring for many chronic lung conditions and post-COVID lung problems.
How similar studies have performed: Hyperpolarized Xenon-129 MRI has shown promising results in humans and received FDA approval for lung functional imaging, but applying next-generation lasers to enable ultrafast routine imaging is a novel technical advance.
Where this research is happening
Detroit, United States
- Wayne State University — Detroit, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chekmenev, Eduard — Wayne State University
- Study coordinator: Chekmenev, Eduard
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.