Improved MRI to map how brain tumors process glucose
Enhanced Deuterium Metabolic Imaging (DMI) of Metabolic Reprogramming in Brain Tumors
This project uses a new kind of MRI with a safe, labeled form of sugar to show how brain tumors use energy, aiming to help people with brain tumors get better-targeted care.
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-11263713 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be given a harmless, labeled form of glucose and have special MRI scans called deuterium metabolic imaging (DMI) that trace how the tumor processes sugar. The scans are designed to show whether the tumor mainly uses glycolysis or oxidative phosphorylation, patterns linked to tumor growth and aggressiveness. Researchers will compare DMI images to standard PET scans and to tumor samples to confirm what the images mean. The work focuses on gliomas and other brain tumors and would take place at centers with the needed MRI equipment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with suspected or confirmed brain tumors (such as gliomas) who can undergo MRI and receive the labeled glucose may be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without brain tumors, those who cannot have MRI (for example because of incompatible implants), or those who cannot safely receive the labeled substrate are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could give doctors a clearer, noninvasive way to see tumor metabolism and help guide or monitor therapies that target cancer energy use.
How similar studies have performed: Early animal and preliminary human DMI work has shown promise for imaging tumor metabolism, but the method is still experimental and not yet widely adopted clinically.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spielman, Daniel M — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Spielman, Daniel M
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.