Nanoprobe-enhanced 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-11231684 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new MRI nanoprobe plus image-processing method to help doctors spot 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) | $475,423 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB035416-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11231684 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with a known primary cancer who are at risk for or being checked for brain metastases and who can undergo MRI procedures.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a risk of brain metastasis, those who cannot have MRI (for example, due to certain implants), or those with diffuse, non‑focal brain disease may not receive direct benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project is building a tiny molecular nanoprobe that changes MRI signals in two ways when it reaches tumor tissue and pairing it with a new subtraction imaging computer method to make tumors stand out from normal brain. Researchers will develop and test the nanoprobe and imaging workflow to boost the tumor-to-normal tissue contrast so very small metastases can be seen. The work includes laboratory experiments and advanced imaging tests to optimize how the probe crosses the blood–brain barrier and lights up metastases while suppressing background signal. The team at UC Davis aims to move this approach toward use in clinical imaging.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the method could let clinicians detect much smaller brain metastases earlier so patients can receive treatment sooner and have more treatment options.
How similar studies have gone: Contrast-agent and subtraction imaging techniques have improved lesion detection in research settings, but this dual-activation two-way magnetic resonance tuning nanoprobe combined with subtraction imaging is a novel approach that has been primarily tested preclinically so far.
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.