Mapping the brain's short connections just beneath the cortex with MRI
Surface-Based Fiber Tracking and Modeling Techniques for Mapping the Superficial White Matter Connectome with Diffusion MRI
Using advanced diffusion MRI and new computer tools to map tiny short connections under the brain's outer layer for people affected by brain disorders or aging.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11046633 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will use MRI scans (including ones you might donate) and new computer methods to trace the superficial white matter — the short 'U-fibers' right under the cortex — which play roles in development, aging, and many brain disorders. The team will build surface-based fiber-tracking algorithms, filtering methods, and personalized atlases that account for each person's brain shape. They will also create harmonization techniques so scans from different scanners and sites can be compared accurately. The aim is to produce more reliable maps of these short connections that could help detect and track disease-related changes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants include people undergoing brain MRI for neurological conditions, older adults concerned about cognitive aging, or patients with disorders that affect white matter.
Not a fit: People without access to high-resolution diffusion MRI or whose conditions do not involve superficial white matter are less likely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to MRI-based markers that help diagnose or monitor brain disorders and age-related decline.
How similar studies have performed: Diffusion MRI methods have improved mapping of deep white-matter tracts, but surface-based mapping of superficial white matter is relatively new and still being developed.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shi, Yonggang — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Shi, Yonggang
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.