MRI mapping of how the brain uses oxygen
Official title: Development and Validation of MRI Mapping of Brain Oxygen Metabolism for Clinical Use
Funded at George Washington University · NIH-11471737 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new MRI scan that measures how much oxygen different parts of the brain use is being developed for people with stroke, Alzheimer's, or other brain conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | George Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $144,793 |
| NIH project number | 7R00NS123229-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11471737 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with acute or chronic brain conditions such as stroke, suspected brain ischemia, or neurodegenerative disorders who can safely undergo MRI (and possibly PET) scans are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without brain disorders or those who cannot safely have MRI (for example, due to incompatible implants or severe claustrophobia) are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
What this research studies
Researchers are creating a noninvasive MRI method that maps the brain's oxygen extraction without special breathing challenges or tracers. The technique uses a routine MRI sequence combined with quantitative susceptibility modeling to estimate deoxygenated hemoglobin levels. They plan to compare and validate the MRI maps against the current reference standard (15O PET) to confirm accuracy. The goal is to make a fast, widely available test that can be used on standard MRI scanners.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give doctors a widely available tool to spot areas of the brain that are not getting enough oxygen and guide treatment or monitor recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous MRI approaches to measure brain oxygen use have had limited sensitivity and complex acquisition needs, so this single-sequence, challenge-free method is promising but remains novel and requires validation against 15O PET.
Where this research is happening
-
George Washington University
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cho, Junghun — George Washington University
- Study coordinator: Cho, Junghun
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
HLA-F and KIR3DS1: unlocking NK cell help to control HIV
A short, patient-friendly look at how a specific immune interaction might help the body control HIV and reduce long-term health problems.
-
Emerging therapies for rare maternal mitochondrial diseases with shared causes
A basket clinical trial will test new drug candidates for two ultra-rare mitochondrial diseases (MELAS and LHON-Plus) that share the same underlying energy-making problem in people who could be affected.
-
Anti-cancer vaccine for liver fluke infection and bile duct cancer
A vaccine approach aims to stop liver fluke interactions with the human bile ducts to prevent bile duct cancer in regions where the parasite is common.
-
Anti-cancer vaccine targeting the host-parasite interface during liver fluke infection
A vaccine approach aims to block how a liver fluke parasite communicates with the human liver to prevent bile duct cancer in people in Southeast Asia.
-
Understanding why youth develop type 2 diabetes and how to prevent it
A nationwide study aims to unravel why some teens with obesity develop type 2 diabetes while others don’t, and to identify factors that could help prevent it.
-
Ultrasensitive antibody-detection method to screen HIV-bNAbs
A new, ultra-sensitive test will help identify which broadly neutralizing antibodies can best block HIV-1 in people, by quickly checking how well these antibodies interact with the virus in patient-derived samples.
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.