MRI to identify causes of chronic lung disease in premature infants
Official title: Physiologic phenotyping of chronic lung disease of prematurity using MRI
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11235886 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Using noninvasive MRI scans that don't need sedation or contrast to find whether the airways, lung tissue, or blood flow are the main cause of breathing problems in premature babies with chronic lung disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | December 10, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $410,050 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL167003-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11235886 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Preterm infants diagnosed with chronic lung disease (formerly called bronchopulmonary dysplasia) who are clinically stable enough to undergo noncontrast MRI scans at the study site.
✕Less likely to help
Infants who are too medically unstable for MRI, those whose breathing problems are caused by nonpulmonary issues, or older children and adults would not be expected to benefit from this specific imaging protocol.
What this research studies
We will use special structural and functional MRI sequences that measure both ventilation and perfusion without radiation, sedation, or gadolinium to image the lungs of preterm infants. The team will develop and apply an ALP scoring system that quantifies the relative contributions of Airways, Lung parenchyma, and Perfusion to each infant's disease. This work builds on preliminary data from 25 infants showing the imaging approach is feasible and safe in this population. The goal is to create a clear imaging profile for each infant that could guide more targeted future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could help clinicians choose treatments tailored to whether an infant's breathing issues come from airway narrowing, parenchymal damage, or poor lung perfusion.
How similar studies have gone: Early pilot data in 25 premature infants show these MRI methods can noninvasively measure lung structure and function, but applying an ALP scoring system to subtype BPD for clinical decision-making is a novel step.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kovanlikaya, Arzu — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Kovanlikaya, Arzu
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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.