Nanoparticles that boost MRI to find tiny brain metastases
Official title: Two-way Magnetic Resonance Tuning Nanoprobe Enhanced Subtraction Imaging for Precision Diagnosis of Brain Metastasis
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11467320 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This uses tiny magnetic nanoparticles and new MRI image processing to help doctors find very small brain metastases earlier in people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $55,065 |
| NIH project number | 3R01EB035416-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11467320 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with cancers that commonly spread to the brain (for example lung, breast cancer, or melanoma) or patients being checked for possible brain metastases would be the most likely candidates for related imaging studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without cancer or those who already have large, easily visible brain tumors are unlikely to gain added benefit from this early-detection imaging approach.
What this research studies
From my point of view as a patient, researchers are developing a tiny molecular nanoprobe that changes MRI signals in two complementary ways so cancer spots stand out from normal brain tissue. They will pair these nanoparticles with a new image subtraction method to suppress background signal and boost tumor contrast. Work includes making and testing the nanoprobe in the lab and using advanced computer processing to improve MRI images. If successful, the team plans steps toward testing the approach in patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow earlier and more accurate MRI detection of very small brain metastases so treatment can begin sooner.
How similar studies have gone: There is prior work on MRI contrast agents, but the specific two-way activatable nanoprobe combined with dual-contrast subtraction imaging is a novel approach that has not yet been proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Yuanpei — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Li, Yuanpei
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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.