MRI that maps brain acidity to guide stroke care
Dual Contrast pH-Weighted MRI for Stroke Imaging
A new MRI method will measure brain acidity to help doctors decide which stroke patients could safely benefit from restoring blood flow.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11248041 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would receive a faster, specialized MRI scan that combines two pH-sensitive contrasts to map acidic areas of the brain after an acute ischemic stroke. The team is refining image processing to remove confounding signals while keeping scan time short enough for emergency use. The scan aims to identify the penumbra (tissue at risk) and areas at higher risk of reperfusion injury if blood flow is restored. This information could help clinicians personalize decisions about reperfusion therapies beyond a fixed time window.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with an acute ischemic stroke who are being considered for reperfusion treatments and can undergo MRI would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke, chronic/stable stroke, or those who cannot have an MRI (for example due to incompatible implants) would not benefit from this imaging approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help doctors more accurately identify salvageable brain tissue and expand safe treatment to more stroke patients.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier amide proton transfer–weighted MRI approaches have shown pH sensitivity but were limited by confounding signals and long scan times, so this dual-contrast approach builds on prior promise but remains relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jin, Tao — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Jin, Tao
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.