MRI technique to track treatment response in brain metastases
Official title: Development of a Clinical CEST MR Fingerprinting Method for Treatment Response Assessment in Brain Metastases
Funded at Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · NIH-11134518 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Creates a faster MRI method that measures chemical changes in brain tumors to help people with brain metastases see whether their treatments are working.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $693,184 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA262662-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11134518 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with brain metastases who are able to undergo MRI scans and who are having follow-up imaging as part of their care at the study site would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without brain metastases or those who cannot have MRI (for example, due to incompatible implants or severe claustrophobia) would not benefit from this imaging method.
What this research studies
You would get a new kind of MRI that measures small chemical exchanges in tumor tissue by combining CEST imaging with magnetic resonance fingerprinting and advanced data processing. The technique aims to produce quantitative maps of tumor pH and protein-related signals (proton exchange rates and volume fractions) with shorter scan times. Researchers will develop and test the method at Memorial Sloan Kettering using patient imaging data and comparisons to clinical outcomes. The hope is to make imaging results clearer so doctors can better tell treatment effects from tumor progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could let doctors detect treatment response or treatment-related changes more quickly and accurately, potentially guiding better therapy decisions for people with brain metastases.
How similar studies have gone: Related CEST MRI approaches have shown promise in gliomas and in distinguishing treatment effects from progression, but combining CEST with MR fingerprinting for routine clinical use is relatively new and has had limited clinical testing.
Where this research is happening
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Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cohen, Ouri — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Cohen, Ouri
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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.