Much clearer magnetic particle imaging for fast, radiation-free scans of CAR-T therapy, stroke, GI bleeds, and pulmonary embolism
Ten-Fold Resolution Boost for Magnetic Particle Imaging with Applications to Rapid, Non-Invasive Imaging of CAR-T Cell Therapies, Stroke, GI Bleeds and Pulmonary Embolisms
This project aims to make a new, radiation-free imaging scan much clearer and faster so doctors can quickly see CAR-T cells and spot strokes, GI bleeds, and pulmonary embolisms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11177720 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be hearing about a new kind of scan called magnetic particle imaging (MPI) that uses safe tracers and no radiation. The team plans to improve the image sharpness about tenfold by redesigning the scanner hardware, the imaging pulses, the image-building software, and the tiny tracer particles themselves. That could let doctors do a five-minute emergency scan or check whether CAR-T cells reach a tumor within a few days. The work moves from lab experiments toward tests that could be used in people at specialized imaging centers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would include people getting CAR-T cell therapy or patients being evaluated for stroke, gastrointestinal bleeding, or possible pulmonary embolism who can travel to the study center.
Not a fit: People who live far from participating sites, have implanted devices incompatible with the scanner, or whose condition is unrelated to blood-borne tracer imaging may not get direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give patients fast, radiation-free, high-detail images to guide treatment decisions for cancer immunotherapy and urgent conditions like stroke or internal bleeding.
How similar studies have performed: Early animal studies and limited human pilot work show MPI can track tracers without radiation, but the proposed tenfold boost in spatial resolution is new and largely untested in patients.
Where this research is happening
Berkeley, United States
- University of California Berkeley — Berkeley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Conolly, Steven M — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Conolly, Steven M
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.