High-resolution brain MRI to see tiny tissue changes
Next generation in-vivo diffusion imaging at submillimeter resolution
Developing new MRI methods to capture very small details in the living human brain for people with subtle brain injuries or conditions like focal cortical dysplasia and microinfarcts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11193949 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work aims to create MRI techniques that can image tiny brain structures at the mesoscale (about 100–500 µm) in living people. You would have scans on advanced research MRI systems that combine higher-resolution diffusion imaging with relaxometry and build on methods like gSlider-SMS. The team will improve tractography and microstructure models so clinicians can better spot highly localized abnormalities such as focal cortical dysplasia or silent microinfarcts. Demonstrations will likely involve scanning volunteers and patients at Stanford to show how the methods perform in real people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would include people with suspected focal cortical dysplasia, unexplained small cortical lesions, or older adults at risk for microinfarcts, as well as healthy volunteers willing to undergo research MRI.
Not a fit: People with incompatible implanted metal devices, severe claustrophobia, or conditions not related to fine brain microstructure are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow earlier or more precise detection and mapping of very small brain lesions, helping guide diagnosis and treatment decisions.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier advances such as gSlider-SMS have enabled submillimeter diffusion MRI, but pushing to true mesoscale resolution (100–500 µm) and combining diffusion-relaxometry in people is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Setsompop, Kawin — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Setsompop, Kawin
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.