Improving brain tumor imaging using a new metabolic imaging technique
Official title: Enhanced Deuterium Metabolic Imaging (DMI) of Metabolic Reprogramming in Brain Tumors
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11015046 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new imaging method to see how brain tumors use energy, which could help us learn more about their growth and find better treatments, and patients will have the chance to participate by having special imaging done on their tumors.
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 start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $629,558 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA277832-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11015046 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with brain tumors, particularly high-grade gliomas.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-cancerous brain conditions or those without brain tumors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing a novel imaging technique called Deuterium Metabolic Imaging (DMI) to better understand how brain tumors metabolize energy. By using deuterated substrates, the study aims to visualize and measure the metabolic processes in brain tumors, particularly how they consume glucose. This approach could provide insights into tumor growth and aggressiveness, potentially leading to more effective treatments. Patients may undergo imaging procedures that help researchers gather data on their tumor metabolism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved diagnostic tools and treatment strategies for patients with brain tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results using metabolic imaging techniques, suggesting that this approach could be a significant advancement in brain tumor diagnostics.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spielman, Daniel M — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Spielman, Daniel M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
ONC206 for children with brain tumors: a first-in-children trial
A first-in-children trial will test the safety and early signs of effectiveness of ONC206, taken by mouth, in kids with malignant brain tumors like diffuse midline gliomas.
-
ONC206 for children with malignant brain tumors
A first-in-children trial tests the safety and early effectiveness of a pill that can cross the brain barrier to treat pediatric brain tumors.
-
ONC206 for children with dangerous brain tumors
A first-in-children study tests the safety and early effectiveness of an oral drug, ONC206, for kids with high-risk brain tumors that have spread or recurred.
-
Oral bacteria and brain metastasis: how the mouth may influence brain tumors
A study exploring how oral microbes may affect brain metastases and patient outcomes, with potential to guide new microbiome-based approaches.
-
Bioengineered brain barrier chip to improve drug screening for brain tumors
A small, patient-friendly brain barrier chip is being developed to test drugs for glioblastoma more accurately before they reach clinical trials.
-
Understanding how epigenetic changes drive pediatric brain tumor recurrence and how reversing them could help
A pediatric brain cancer research project is exploring how an epigenetic change (H3K27M) and tumor environment contribute to tumor coming back, using a reversible mouse model to study potential ways to prevent recurrence.
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.