Motion-tolerant MRI for young children
Official title: Next Generation Pediatric Neuroimaging (NGPN) Development
Funded at Champaign Imaging, LLC · NIH-11168945 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is building MRI technology that captures clear brain images of young children with autism even if they move, so they may not need general anesthesia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Champaign Imaging, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Shoreview, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | May 1, 2020 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,358,125 |
| NIH project number | 5R44MH122028-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11168945 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children (especially those aged 0–11) with autism or other developmental conditions who need brain MRI but have difficulty staying still are the ideal candidates for testing this technology.
✕Less likely to help
People who can cooperate with standard MRI without movement, adults who do not need pediatric imaging, or those with MRI contraindications (like certain implants) are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
We are creating new MRI hardware, scanning methods, and image-reconstruction software designed to work when children move during the scan. The system aims to provide high-quality brain pictures for many MRI types (like structural, diffusion, perfusion, and functional imaging) without putting a child under anesthesia. The team will prototype special coils and switching hardware, develop faster motion-robust pulse sequences, and use improved reconstruction algorithms to clean motion-related artifacts. If testing goes well, this technology would be used at clinics and research centers to make scanning safer and more reliable for children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce or eliminate the need for general anesthesia during pediatric brain MRI, making scans safer and easier to obtain.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work on motion-correction and child-friendly MRI shows promising results for reducing motion artifacts, but a single system covering all major MRI contrasts and eliminating anesthesia is a newer, less-tested goal.
Where this research is happening
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Champaign Imaging, LLC
Shoreview, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Corum, Curtis Andrew — Champaign Imaging, LLC
- Study coordinator: Corum, Curtis Andrew
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Next Generation Pediatric Brain Imaging to Make MRI Safer for Kids
A new technology aims to make pediatric brain MRIs faster and clearer without general anesthesia, helping children with autism have safer, better imaging during clinical care and research.
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Developing advanced imaging technology for children
This study is working on a new way to take MRI pictures of children's brains that doesn't require them to go under anesthesia, making it safer and easier for kids to get the imaging they need.
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.