NerveAI: smarter diagnosis and treatment planning for headache pain
Official title: Nerve Artificial Intelligence (NerveAI) and High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Neurography: Advancing the Diagnosis and Treatment of Headache Disorders
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11347158 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new AI-assisted tool plus high-resolution MRI will help doctors diagnose occipital neuralgia more accurately and plan personalized treatments for people with headaches.
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 | June 15, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $702,655 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS148851-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11347158 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with suspected occipital neuralgia or related headache disorders who may benefit from nerve-focused imaging and AI-guided diagnosis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without occipital neuralgia or those not undergoing MR neurography may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project combines an artificial intelligence model that reads pain drawings with advanced MR neurography to spot nerve changes linked to occipital neuralgia. Using real-time pain pattern analysis and deep-learning-enhanced MRI images, clinicians can detect nerve issues earlier and more reliably. The team will standardize imaging protocols and test how well these tools predict which treatments will work, in patients who present with headache symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive faster, more precise diagnoses and more tailored treatment plans for headache disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary research shows promise for AI-assisted imaging improving nerve-related diagnoses, but this integrated approach is still being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gfrerer, Lisa — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Gfrerer, Lisa
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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.