New imaging techniques to improve cancer diagnosis
Official title: Innovative Scan Protocols With Combined Long Axial FOV PET and Spectral CT for Improved Quantification in Oncology
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11047159 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing new ways to take faster and better scans for breast cancer using advanced imaging techniques, which could help doctors understand blood flow and sugar use in tumors, making the whole process easier and more accurate for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $666,670 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA288521-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11047159 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with breast cancer who require imaging for treatment planning or monitoring.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to breast cancer or those who do not require imaging studies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing innovative scan protocols that combine long axial field-of-view PET and spectral CT imaging to enhance the quality of cancer diagnostics. By creating methods to obtain high-quality dynamic information from both imaging modalities, the project aims to reduce the overall scan time to approximately 20 minutes, making the process more efficient and less burdensome for patients. The study will evaluate how these advanced imaging techniques can quantify blood flow and glucose metabolism specifically in breast cancer, potentially improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to faster and more accurate cancer diagnoses, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using advanced imaging techniques for cancer diagnostics, indicating that this approach could lead to significant advancements in the field.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karp, Joel S — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Karp, Joel S
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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.