New imaging tools to measure breast tissue structure
SCH: Topological Methods for Breast Tissue Quantification
This project builds imaging algorithms that read detailed breast scans to find subtle tissue changes linked to higher cancer risk and treatment response.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11133037 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
A multidisciplinary team will create a toolkit called TopoQuant that uses topology-based math to map fine details of breast tissue in 2D and 3D images. They will produce high-quality labels of breast parenchyma and vessels and develop topological descriptors that capture changes in tissue architecture after events like angiogenesis or treatments such as radiation. Computer algorithms will be trained on imaging data to recognize patterns that may indicate higher risk of cancer or greater likelihood of recurrence. Much of the work is computational but will use real patient imaging so the methods could be applied to routine mammograms and breast MRIs in the future.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had breast imaging such as mammograms, 3D mammography (tomosynthesis), or breast MRI—especially those with a personal or family history of breast cancer—are most relevant.
Not a fit: People without any breast imaging data or those who need immediate clinical treatment decisions are unlikely to get direct benefit from this methods-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these methods could help flag people at higher risk for breast cancer and improve predictions about treatment response and recurrence from routine breast images.
How similar studies have performed: Radiomics and other image-based models have shown promise in breast imaging, but applying topology-driven analysis is a relatively new and experimental approach.
Where this research is happening
Stony Brook, United States
- State University New York Stony Brook — Stony Brook, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Chao — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Chen, Chao
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 below.