Improving breast cancer diagnosis using advanced imaging techniques
Official title: DeepTOBIDx: deep learning-enhanced multimodal diagnostic breast imaging
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11163418 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new way to improve breast cancer diagnosis by combining advanced imaging techniques with traditional methods, so patients can get more accurate results and avoid unnecessary biopsies, leading to quicker and better treatment options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 8, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $700,439 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB035186-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11163418 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women undergoing evaluation for breast lesions, particularly those with BI-RADS 4 or 5 assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with no breast lesions or those who have already been diagnosed with breast cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing breast cancer diagnosis by integrating advanced imaging techniques, specifically diffusion optical tomography (DOT), with traditional methods like mammography and MRI. The goal is to provide more accurate physiological information about breast lesions, which can help differentiate between benign and malignant tumors. By developing a new approach called DeepTOBIDx, the research aims to improve the speed and accuracy of breast cancer diagnoses, potentially reducing the number of unnecessary biopsies. Patients will benefit from a more reliable diagnostic process that can lead to earlier and more effective treatment options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the accuracy of breast cancer diagnoses and reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using diffusion optical tomography for breast imaging, indicating that this approach could lead to significant advancements in diagnostic accuracy.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Deng, Bin — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Deng, Bin
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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.