Making MRI scans from many hospitals comparable to improve Alzheimer's research
Harmonization of Multi-Site Neuroimaging Data from Complex Study Designs
This project develops new statistical methods to combine brain MRI scans from different hospitals so researchers can better find and track Alzheimer's disease in patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11355385 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are creating statistical tools to harmonize MRI brain scans collected at many hospitals and studies so the scans can be compared fairly. They will adapt methods from genetics (like ComBat) and add techniques to handle missing clinical information and nonlinear differences between scanning sites. The team will test these tools on large multi-site MRI datasets focused on aging and Alzheimer's to confirm that disease-related signals remain intact. By making data from different centers comparable, the work aims to enable more reliable biomarkers and combined analyses across studies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, or older adults who can share their brain MRI scans or participate at collaborating imaging centers would be the best candidates to contribute data.
Not a fit: People without MRI scans or whose care doesn't involve brain imaging are unlikely to see direct benefits from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make MRI-based markers more reliable across hospitals, helping doctors and researchers detect and monitor Alzheimer's disease earlier and more accurately.
How similar studies have performed: Harmonization methods such as ComBat have already improved multi-site MRI studies, but adapting them to preserve disease signals when data are missing or effects are nonlinear is newer and still being developed.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shinohara, Russell Takeshi — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Shinohara, Russell Takeshi
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.