Imaging tumor acidity and sodium to tell invading from growing brain tumor cells
Official title: Interleaved 1H/23Na imaging for invasive and proliferative phenotypes of brain tumors
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11294295 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses advanced MRI techniques that read water and sodium signals to tell which parts of a brain tumor are invading nearby tissue versus actively growing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | March 8, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $565,665 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA280871-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11294295 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with glioblastoma or other brain tumors who are willing and able to undergo additional specialized MRI scanning at the research center.
✕Less likely to help
People without brain tumors, or those who cannot have MRI (for example due to certain implanted devices or severe claustrophobia), are unlikely to benefit from this imaging approach.
What this research studies
From your perspective, researchers are building a new MRI method that measures both hydrogen (the usual MRI signal) and sodium to map chemical and electrical changes in brain tumors like glioblastoma. The team aims to spot areas where tumor cells are moving into healthy brain versus areas where cells are rapidly dividing, using lab models and human tumor samples as they refine the scans. The scans are noninvasive imaging procedures that could be added to routine MRI visits once developed. Results could help doctors see tumor behavior beyond what standard MRI shows and better target surgery or treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors find invasive tumor cells earlier and tailor surgery or treatment to the tumor's behavior.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research shows sodium and pH-related imaging can reveal tumor changes in lab models and some human samples, but combining interleaved 1H/23Na imaging for this specific purpose is a newer approach not yet used widely in patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hyder, Dewan Syed Fahmeed — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Hyder, Dewan Syed Fahmeed
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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.