New ways to cut radiation and time in kids’ PET/CT scans
Official title: Novel methodologies to minimize pediatric PET/CT dose
Funded at University of Cincinnati · NIH-11450391 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A project to dramatically reduce radiation dose and scan time for pediatric PET/CT imaging using new deep learning tools so children diagnosed with cancer (and other conditions) can stay safe during imaging.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cincinnati NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | August 21, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $688,993 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA304403-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11450391 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with cancer or other conditions who need PET/CT imaging and whose scans could benefit from reduced dose and shorter duration.
✕Less likely to help
Patients unlikely to benefit are those not requiring PET/CT imaging or whose scans are already optimized for dose and time.
What this research studies
This study targets improving PET/CT scans for children by using advanced computer methods to lower the amount of radiation and shorten the scan. Researchers will develop deep learning techniques that work with patient data to preserve image quality while cutting down exposure and time. The project aims to be usable on current PET/CT machines and future platforms, with a focus on keeping scans accurate for diagnosing and tracking disease. Importantly, this work addresses motion issues caused by children moving during scans to maintain diagnostic quality.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, children could receive high-quality PET/CT scans with much less radiation and shorter procedure times.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary results from related DL-based approaches have shown promise in improving image quality at lower doses in adult populations; pediatric-specific validation is ongoing.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tang, Jing — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Tang, Jing
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Adding PSMA PET/CT imaging to liver cancer care for veterans
This project tests a new PET imaging approach to help diagnose and guide treatment for liver cancer in veterans.
-
High-Performance Brain PET Imaging with Whole-Body PET for Cancer Care
A new brain PET scanner, used with a whole-body PET, could improve cancer diagnosis and monitoring by giving sharper brain and body images in one session.
-
PET/CT imaging to detect chemotherapy-related vascular harm in young cancer patients
A non-invasive PET/CT scan method using standard care imaging is being tested to identify which pediatric and young adult cancer patients are at higher risk of blood clots from chemotherapy.
-
Brain PET/CT Scanner for Alzheimer's research at Pitt
A new brain PET/CT scanner will modernize Pittsburgh’s imaging program to support ongoing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia research.
-
Advanced motion correction for cardiac PET/CT to improve cancer patient care
A Yale-led project will develop data-driven motion correction methods to improve heart PET/CT images in cancer patients, using 82Rb tracer without external tracking.
-
Dual-tracer PET/CT scans to image blood flow and nerve activity in diabetic leg disease
This work uses two PET tracers to take detailed pictures of blood flow and nerve signals in people with diabetes who have or are at risk for peripheral artery disease.
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.