New Wearable Imaging to See How Breast Cancer Responds to Chemotherapy
Official title: 3D wearable NIR spectral tomography for early prediction of breast cancer’s residual cancer burden after neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Funded at Dartmouth College · NIH-11136328 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is developing a new wearable imaging device to help doctors see very early if breast cancer treatment is working for patients receiving chemotherapy before surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hanover, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $509,797 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA291967-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11136328 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is relevant for breast cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy before surgery.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer would not directly benefit from this specific imaging approach.
What this research studies
We are creating a special wearable device that uses near-infrared light to look inside breast tissue. This device can detect subtle changes in the breast tumor very early in treatment, even before the tumor size visibly shrinks. By seeing these changes quickly, doctors might be able to tell if your chemotherapy is effective. This non-invasive, low-cost imaging method could offer a new way to monitor treatment progress for breast cancer patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this new imaging method could help doctors adjust breast cancer treatment sooner, potentially leading to better long-term outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have gone: The researchers have previously developed a similar system and gathered clinical data from women, showing its potential to detect tumor response.
Where this research is happening
-
Dartmouth College
Hanover, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jiang, Shudong — Dartmouth College
- Study coordinator: Jiang, Shudong
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Magnetic resonance fingerprinting to gauge chemotherapy response in breast cancer
A patient-facing look at using a special MRI method (MRF) to see early whether breast cancer is responding to preliminary chemotherapy.
-
3D wearable NIR imaging to predict breast cancer response during treatment
A noninvasive, portable 3D wearable optical test (NIRS tomography) will be used to spot early signs of how breast cancer is responding to chemotherapy, helping guide treatment for patients.
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MRI fingerprinting to spot early breast tumor response to chemotherapy given before surgery
This project uses a new MRI method to find early changes in breast tumors during chemotherapy given before surgery so doctors can change treatment sooner if needed.
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Improving how we track breast cancer chemotherapy with 3D imaging
This project aims to develop a new 3D ultrasound method to see how well chemotherapy is working for breast cancer patients before surgery.
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Using 3D wearable technology to predict breast cancer treatment outcomes
This study is testing a new, easy-to-use imaging method that helps doctors see how well chemotherapy is working for breast cancer patients, so they can better understand how much cancer is left after treatment and improve chances for a healthier future.
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How pre-surgery chemotherapy affects breast cancer spread
This study is looking at how chemotherapy for breast cancer might sometimes help cancer cells spread to other parts of the body, and it aims to understand the role of certain immune cells in this process, which could lead to better treatment options for patients like you.
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.