Non‑invasive MRI with AI to better find aggressive prostate cancer
Official title: Pilot Project #1
Funded at Howard University · NIH-11196096 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses a new non-invasive MRI method combined with artificial intelligence to help detect and map aggressive prostate cancer in men, especially those at higher risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Howard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $152,428 |
| NIH project number | 5U54CA295337-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11196096 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are men with elevated PSA, suspicious prostate imaging, or who are at higher risk for aggressive prostate cancer (for example due to family history or being from a high-burden community).
✕Less likely to help
Men with widespread metastatic prostate cancer or those who cannot undergo MRI (for example due to incompatible implants or severe claustrophobia) are unlikely to benefit from this diagnostic imaging approach.
What this research studies
You would get a special type of MRI (molecular CEST MRI) on a standard 3T scanner that looks at tumor metabolism rather than just anatomy. The team will use computer simulations of blood flow and metabolism to train AI models that sharpen metabolic images. Researchers will map energy use in suspicious prostate tumors and compare those results with clinical vascular and anatomical scans. The goal is to create clearer, patient-specific images that could guide diagnosis and care decisions without extra invasive procedures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give more accurate, non-invasive information about how aggressive a prostate tumor is and reduce unnecessary biopsies.
How similar studies have gone: Related metabolic MRI and AI-enhancement approaches have shown promising early results but remain experimental and are not yet standard clinical care.
Where this research is happening
-
Howard University
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Akala, Emmanuel O — Howard University
- Study coordinator: Akala, Emmanuel O
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.