Improved brain scans for epilepsy surgery planning
Motion Compensated fMRI for Pre-Surgical Planning in Epilepsy
Trying new methods to reduce head motion during brain scans so people with drug-resistant epilepsy can get clearer brain maps before surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11317143 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You'll have your brain scanned using motion‑compensation techniques designed to keep images accurate even if you move. The team will use motion tracking, smarter scan sequences, and software corrections to preserve the brain signals doctors use to find important language and motor areas. They will directly compare these improved scans with standard scans to see which gives more reliable maps for surgical planning. The goal is to reduce repeat scans and give surgeons better information when planning a tailored resection.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with drug‑resistant epilepsy who are being considered for surgical removal of the seizure focus, including pediatric patients seen at Boston Children's Hospital.
Not a fit: Patients who are not candidates for epilepsy surgery, people without epilepsy, or those whose scans are already motion‑free are unlikely to receive direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give surgeons clearer maps to help spare critical brain areas, reduce the need for repeat imaging, and improve surgical outcomes for people with drug‑resistant epilepsy.
How similar studies have performed: Some research and advanced motion‑correction technologies have improved fMRI quality in research settings, but these approaches are not yet widely adopted for clinical pre‑surgical planning.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Warfield, Simon K — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Warfield, Simon K
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.