Faster pediatric brain MRI with lower-dose contrast dye
Low-dose contrast enhanced fast pediatric brain MRI
This project will use faster MRI techniques to shorten scan time and reduce gadolinium contrast exposure for children who need brain MRIs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11307631 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child needs a brain MRI, this project aims to make the exam much quicker and use less contrast dye so there is less need for sedation. The team will combine advanced acceleration methods (simultaneous multislice/CAIPI and compressed sensing) with deep-learning image reconstruction to keep image quality high despite much faster scans. They will develop and test these methods on pediatric brain imaging sequences at Boston Children's Hospital. The goal is to maintain diagnostic detail while cutting scan time and contrast dose.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children undergoing clinically indicated brain MRI—especially infants and young children who might otherwise need sedation or gadolinium contrast—would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who do not need a brain MRI, those with contraindications to MRI (e.g., some implants), or cases requiring standard longer protocols for specific diagnostic reasons may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could shorten MRI exams, reduce or avoid sedation, and lower exposure to gadolinium for children undergoing brain imaging.
How similar studies have performed: Related acceleration methods like simultaneous multislice/CAIPI and compressed sensing have shortened scan times in research and some clinical settings, but combining them with deep learning for routine pediatric brain MRI is still relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gagoski, Borjan — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Gagoski, Borjan
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.