Improving surgical margin analysis for head and neck cancer surgery
Official title: Ex vivo intraoperative surgical basal margin analysis in head and neck cancer resection: clinical validation
Funded at Illinois Institute of Technology · NIH-11064903 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new imaging system that helps doctors quickly check the edges of tissue removed during head and neck cancer surgery to make sure they got all the cancer, which could help patients have better outcomes and lower chances of the cancer coming back.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Illinois Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | April 2, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $532,573 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE033449-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11064903 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who are scheduled for surgical resection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have already undergone surgery for head and neck cancer or those with non-squamous cell carcinoma types may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the analysis of surgical margins during head and neck cancer surgeries using a new imaging system and automated data analysis. The innovative dual-aperture fluorescence ratio (dAFR) imaging technology allows for rapid assessment of the entire resected tissue margin in under one minute, compared to the traditional method that takes over 30 minutes. By accurately detecting inadequate margins, this approach aims to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence and improve patient outcomes. The study is conducted in collaboration with a leading medical center in the Netherlands, ensuring a robust clinical validation process.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve surgical outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer by ensuring tumor-free margins and reducing the need for additional surgeries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using advanced imaging techniques for surgical margin analysis, indicating a potential for success with this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tichauer, Kenneth — Illinois Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Tichauer, Kenneth
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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.