Intraoperative margin check for head and neck cancer during 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-11521320 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new imaging and automated analysis tool is being tested during head and neck cancer surgeries to check the bottom edge of the removed tissue in under a minute.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $200,129 |
| NIH project number | 3R01DE033449-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11521320 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults undergoing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma surgery where margin status is critical.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with tumors outside the head and neck region or those not undergoing margin assessment may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project partners with a European medical center to test a dual-aperture fluorescence system and automated data analysis that examines the entire resected basal margin quickly. It aims to identify positive or close margins sooner than today’s methods, potentially preventing the need for return surgeries. The study compares the new method to the standard frozen-section pathology, focusing on speed and accuracy in detecting inadequate margins. Patients undergoing head and neck cancer surgery could benefit if margins are confirmed clear faster, guiding immediate surgical decisions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may have fewer re-operations and faster confirmation of complete tumor removal.
How similar studies have gone: Previous approaches show promise in rapid margin assessment, but this project tests a novel dual-aperture fluorescence system with automated analysis.
Where this research is happening
-
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brankov, Jovan G — Illinois Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Brankov, Jovan G
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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.