Low-dose, motion-corrected MRI to improve pancreatic cancer imaging
Official title: Fully Quantitative Low-Dose, Motion-Resolved Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11181183 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Testing a low-dose contrast MRI method that corrects for breathing and heart motion to create clearer images for people with pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB032801-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11181183 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with confirmed or suspected pancreatic adenocarcinoma who can undergo MRI with contrast, including those who have difficulty holding their breath or have arrhythmias, are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without pancreatic disease or those who cannot receive gadolinium-based contrast (for example, severe kidney dysfunction or a known contrast allergy) may not benefit from this method.
What this research studies
This project aims to develop a quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI technique that uses smaller amounts of gadolinium contrast and resolves respiratory and cardiac motion. Researchers will take 3D images before, during, and after a low contrast dose and apply motion-resolved reconstruction to produce reproducible measurements of blood flow and tissue properties in pancreatic tumors. The team will validate these scans against current imaging methods and test consistency across repeated scans and settings. The approach is intended to reduce the need for breath-holding and to work better for patients with irregular heart rhythms while lowering contrast-related safety concerns.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give doctors more precise and repeatable tumor measurements with lower contrast dose and fewer motion-related failed scans.
How similar studies have gone: Quantitative DCE MRI has been useful in other cancers and organ systems, but applying low-dose, motion-resolved DCE specifically to pancreatic cancer is relatively new and less tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Christodoulou, Anthony G — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Christodoulou, Anthony G
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
PASSCODE: Coordinating and Sharing PDAC stromal research data
A networked effort at NYU School of Medicine aims to study how the pancreatic cancer stroma shapes tumor growth and patient outcomes, by coordinating researchers, sharing data, and educating the field.
-
Oncostatin M Receptor in Pancreatic Cancer
Aims to understand how a molecule called Oncostatin M and its receptor affect pancreatic cancer to find new ways to help patients.
-
Total Neoadjuvant Therapy for Borderline or Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
A multi-part treatment approach tests giving all chemotherapy and targeted radiotherapy before surgery to help patients with tough-to-remove pancreatic cancer become eligible for curative surgery.
-
Low-dose, motion-aware MRI to study pancreatic cancer
A new MRI method using low-dose contrast and motion-resolved imaging is being explored to better characterize pancreatic cancer in patients.
-
SOAT1 as a target in pancreatic cancer
Researchers are studying a specific enzyme, SOAT1, to see if blocking it can slow down or stop pancreatic cancer progression in models that mimic human disease.
-
Turning inflammatory scar cells in the pancreas into helpers to improve treatment response
This project will try to change inflammatory, scar-forming cells around pancreatic tumors so treatments and the immune system can work better for people with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
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.