Improving fetal MRI for better brain development insights
Official title: Next-generation in-vivo fetal neuroimaging
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-11128169 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on improving MRI scans for unborn babies to get clearer pictures of their developing brains, which could help doctors better understand and care for babies at risk of brain issues during pregnancy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project start | January 7, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $222,192 |
| NIH project number | 7R01EB031849-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128169 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant individuals in their second trimester who may have concerns about fetal brain development or associated conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those in the first or third trimester may not receive benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to better understand early brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders. By addressing the challenges posed by fetal movement during scans, the project will implement real-time navigation of MRI slices to ensure accurate imaging of the developing fetal brain. This advancement could lead to more reliable assessments of brain compartments that are vulnerable to injury during pregnancy, ultimately improving the quality of prenatal care and outcomes for at-risk fetuses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate prenatal assessments of brain development, allowing for earlier interventions for at-risk fetuses.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in improving MRI techniques for fetal imaging, but this approach aims to introduce novel real-time navigation methods that have not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gholipour-Baboli, Ali — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Gholipour-Baboli, Ali
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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.