Improving Brain Scans for Mental Health and Aging
Personalized spatiotemporal hemodynamic response models for functional magnetic resonance imaging
This project aims to make brain scans more accurate by creating personalized models of how blood flow changes in the brain, which could help us better understand mental health and aging.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11142531 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our brains are incredibly complex, and functional MRI (fMRI) helps us see how different parts work together. Currently, most fMRI scans rely on a simplified idea of how blood flow changes in the brain, which isn't always accurate for everyone or every brain area. This project uses a large collection of existing brain scan data from people aged 5 to 100 to develop new, personalized models of brain blood flow. By creating more precise models, we hope to get a clearer picture of brain activity, which can help us understand conditions like anxiety, aging, and substance misuse. This improved understanding could lead to better ways to identify and support people with these challenges.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project uses existing brain scan data from a wide range of ages (5-100) and does not involve new patient recruitment for scans.
Not a fit: Patients seeking direct clinical intervention or new diagnostic tests from this specific project will not find immediate benefit, as it focuses on improving the underlying technology for future applications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more accurate fMRI results, improving our understanding of brain disorders and aging, and potentially guiding future treatments or diagnostic tools.
How similar studies have performed: While the general approach of fMRI is well-established, this project develops novel statistical methods to address a known limitation in current fMRI analysis, building on existing large datasets.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lindquist, Martin — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Lindquist, Martin
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.