Gas-free MRI to measure brain blood vessel function in vascular cognitive impairment
Gas-free cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) MRI in vascular cognitive impairment
This project is trying a comfortable MRI method that measures how well brain blood vessels respond in people with vascular cognitive impairment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10907039 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have an MRI scan that does not require breathing special gases or getting drugs to trigger blood vessels. Researchers will develop and refine a gas-free cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) MRI technique that uses natural signals from standard MRI to show how well brain vessels dilate. They will compare the new gas-free images to traditional CO2-inhalation or drug-based CVR tests to make sure the results are similar. The goal is a faster, more comfortable scan that could be used in clinics to help diagnose vascular causes of cognitive problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with vascular cognitive impairment, vascular dementia, or suspected small vessel disease are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People whose memory problems are due only to Alzheimer’s pathology without vascular involvement, or those who cannot undergo MRI, may not benefit from this imaging approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make it easier and more comfortable to detect vascular problems that contribute to memory and thinking difficulties.
How similar studies have performed: CVR measured with CO2 inhalation or drugs has been useful in research and some clinics, but gas-free CVR MRI is newer and still being validated against those standards.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- University of Maryland Baltimore — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Peiying — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Liu, Peiying
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.