NIH-funded research R01 grant

Imaging how belly fat affects lung collapse in severe breathing failure

Official title: Imaging the Respiratory Effects of Truncal Adiposity in Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure

Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11408601 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A hospital-based study will use CT scans and AI tools to understand how truncal fat distribution changes lung collapse and treatment response in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMassachusetts General Hospital
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project startSeptember 10, 2025
Project endJune 30, 2030
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$655,603
NIH project number5R01HL177025-02
Project IDNIH-11408601 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults with obesity and acute hypoxemic respiratory failure who require intensive care and ventilatory support.

Less likely to help

Patients without obesity or not experiencing AHRF may not directly benefit from this imaging-focused approach.

What this research studies

This project will enroll patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and use advanced CT imaging and AI-based analysis to map truncal adiposity and its effects on intrathoracic pressure and lung collapse. By comparing imaging findings with clinical responses to treatments like prone positioning and PEEP, the team aims to identify imaging markers that reflect severity and guide therapy at the bedside. The work builds on prior methods that quantify lung injury and collapse using CT registration and segmentation powered by artificial intelligence. The goal is to improve understanding of obesity-related differences in AHRF and to develop practical imaging tools that clinicians can use to tailor care.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, clinicians may better predict which patients will respond to standard therapies and personalize treatment for obesity-related AHRF using imaging-derived guidance.

How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that imaging and AI-based analysis can quantify lung collapse and injury; this study extends those methods to obesity-related mechanics in AHRF.

Where this research is happening

  • Massachusetts General Hospital
    Boston, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Cereda, Maurizio Franco — Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Study coordinator: Cereda, Maurizio Franco

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.