Improving imaging of brain development before birth
Official title: Imaging early development of human neural circuits
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-11129097 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on new ways to take pictures of a baby's brain while it's still in the womb, so we can learn more about how it grows and works, which could help us understand brain health in unborn children.
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 | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $405,190 |
| NIH project number | 7R01HD109395-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11129097 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant individuals, particularly those in the second trimester, who may have concerns about fetal brain development.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those whose pregnancies are not in the second trimester may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing advanced imaging technology to better analyze how the brain develops and functions in fetuses. By utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the team aims to overcome challenges such as fetal motion and anatomical differences that complicate current imaging methods. The project includes creating new techniques for capturing and processing fMRI data, allowing for clearer insights into neural circuits and brain connections during early development. This could lead to a better understanding of brain health and development in unborn children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved early detection of brain development issues in fetuses, allowing for timely interventions.
How similar studies have gone: While fetal fMRI has been explored, this research aims to introduce novel techniques that have not been widely tested, making it a potentially groundbreaking approach.
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.