Multimodal MRI to guide bacterial cancer therapy
Official title: Multimodal MRI for guiding bacterial cancer therapy
Funded at Hugo W. Moser Res Inst Kennedy Krieger · NIH-11345109 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new imaging approach uses MRI to guide and monitor bacteria-based cancer therapy, aiming to make treatment safer and more effective for tough-to-treat solid tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hugo W. Moser Res Inst Kennedy Krieger NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | June 2, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $388,273 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA261974-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11345109 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with solid tumors that are poorly vascularized or hypoxic and eligible for bacterial-based cancer therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients unlikely to receive bacterial therapy or who cannot undergo MRI-based monitoring may derive little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project develops MRI methods that can detect and monitor therapeutic bacteria in tumors, especially where tumors lack good blood supply. It focuses on two imaging techniques, including bacCEST to visualize bacteria, so clinicians can see where the bacteria are and how they are behaving in real time. The goal is to identify patients who are most likely to respond and to better track safety by measuring infection signs and tumor changes during treatment. The work is designed to translate from research models toward clinical use to improve outcomes for patients with resistant cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with hard-to-treat tumors could benefit from more precise, safer bacterial therapies guided by real-time MRI.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier studies show promise with imaging-guided bacterial therapies, but this approach aims to standardize and improve real-time guidance.
Where this research is happening
-
Hugo W. Moser Res Inst Kennedy Krieger
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Guanshu — Hugo W. Moser Res Inst Kennedy Krieger
- Study coordinator: Liu, Guanshu
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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.