Image-based tools to guide treatment for kids with brain tumors
Official title: Image informatics tools for curation and prognostic modeling in pediatric brain tumors
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11385379 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A pediatric brain tumor project is developing MRI-based computer tools to help doctors tailor therapy and reduce side effects for children with brain cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | August 6, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $384,657 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA294415-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385379 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children diagnosed with brain tumors who will undergo MRI as part of standard care and whose imaging data can be quality-controlled and annotated for model development.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without consistent MRI data or pediatric brain tumor treatment plans may not directly benefit from these tools.
What this research studies
This project will create and validate image-based prognostic models using machine learning and deep learning to complement molecular risk-stratification in pediatric brain tumors. Researchers will focus on quality-controlled pediatric MRI data, with deeply annotated scans, to build models that identify high-risk cases needing more therapy and low-risk cases where treatment could be de-escalated. The work leverages existing clinical MRI workflows to produce actionable information that could influence adjuvant and concomitant treatment decisions. The effort acknowledges the unique challenges of pediatric imaging, including contrast, noise, and resolution differences, and aims to produce tools that fit into real-world pediatric care. Collaboration with the UW-Madison team will ensure translation into clinical practice with careful validation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tools could help personalize therapy for children with brain tumors, reducing over- or under-treatment and improving long-term outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in adult brain tumors with ML/DL prognostic models has shown promise, but pediatric-specific data and tailoring are still needed and being developed here.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tiwari, Pallavi — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Tiwari, Pallavi
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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.