Making brain MRI images clearer and more consistent
Resolution Enhancement and Contrast Harmonization for MR Neuroimaging
Using new computer (AI) methods to sharpen and standardize brain MRI scans so doctors can more reliably compare images from different hospitals and times.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11316993 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part, researchers will use advanced computer algorithms to improve the resolution and match the contrast of routine clinical brain MRIs, including older multi-slice 2D scans and higher-resolution 3D scans. They will work with MRI data from different hospitals and scanners to train the AI to make images look consistent across sites and over time. The team will compare the enhanced images to standardized research scans and check whether radiologists and quantitative tools read them more reliably. The goal is to make routine clinical scans more useful for diagnosis and tracking without changing how the scans are originally obtained.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who get brain MRIs—such as those being checked for stroke, dementia, tumors, multiple sclerosis, or other neurological conditions—or who have past brain MRI scans from different sites would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without brain MRI scans or whose care depends on very specialized MRI sequences not targeted by the project are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors spot and track brain disease more accurately from routine MRI scans and make it easier to compare images taken at different hospitals or times.
How similar studies have performed: Related AI-based image-enhancement and harmonization methods have shown promising results in research settings but are still emerging and not yet widely used in routine clinical care.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Prince, Jerry L — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Prince, Jerry L
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 below.