MRI and PET scans to track treatment response in active cardiac sarcoidosis
Advanced multi-parametric 18F-FDG PET and MRI imaging parameters of response to immune suppressant therapy in patients with active cardiac sarcoidosis
This project uses PET and MRI scans with advanced imaging measures and AI to monitor how people with active cardiac sarcoidosis respond to immune-suppressing treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141926 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have specialized 18F-FDG PET scans and cardiac MRI before and after immune-suppressant therapy so doctors can track inflammation, scarring, and blood flow in the heart. The team will measure multiple imaging parameters—like FDG uptake (inflammation), late gadolinium enhancement (fibrosis), and perfusion defects—and apply AI models to combine them into clearer response signals. They plan to define numerical thresholds that indicate meaningful improvement on scans to guide treatment decisions. Your imaging and clinical outcomes will be linked to see which scan changes match better heart health and fewer symptoms.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with diagnosed active cardiac sarcoidosis who are candidates for or starting immune-suppressant therapy and can undergo PET and MRI scans.
Not a fit: People without cardiac sarcoidosis, those with contraindications to MRI or PET (such as some implanted devices or severe kidney problems), or those unable to travel to the study center are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help doctors know earlier and more precisely when immune-suppressing treatment is working, allowing safer, more personalized therapy.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has shown FDG PET and cardiac MRI relate to outcomes, but agreed numerical cutoffs are lacking and combining multi-parametric imaging with AI is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fayad, Zahi a. — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Fayad, Zahi a.
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.