Noninvasive imaging to map chemical activity inside tissues
Towards In Vivo Imaging of Tissue Metabolomics
Building new MRI-based tools to create maps of tissue metabolites so people with diseases that change metabolism can get clearer, noninvasive answers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11178663 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are developing advanced MR spectroscopic imaging methods that combine MRI and chemical spectroscopy to show where and how metabolites are distributed inside living tissues. Current approaches either require tissue samples after surgery or give low-resolution chemical data, so this work focuses on improving scanner hardware and software to get clearer, spatially resolved metabolite maps. The team will test methods in tissue samples and animal models, optimize imaging sequences and data analysis, and work toward making the technique usable in people. The goal is a noninvasive way to see metabolic differences across tissues without needing biopsies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with conditions known to alter tissue metabolism—for example certain cancers, neurological disorders, or metabolic diseases—would be the most likely candidates for future human imaging studies.
Not a fit: Patients who cannot undergo MRI (for example due to incompatible implants or severe claustrophobia) or whose conditions require molecular tests that exceed MR sensitivity may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let doctors detect and monitor disease-related metabolic changes earlier, guide treatment decisions, and reduce the need for invasive biopsies.
How similar studies have performed: Mass-spectrometry imaging has demonstrated detailed metabolite maps but requires tissue samples, and previous MR spectroscopic imaging studies have shown feasibility but been limited by low sensitivity and resolution, so this work builds on known methods to address those gaps.
Where this research is happening
Champaign, United States
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Champaign, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lam, Fan — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Lam, Fan
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.