Novel MRI to see how diabetes affects stomach emptying
Official title: Use of novel MRI technology to study pathophysiology diabetic gastroparesis
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11181323 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Advanced MRI is being used to watch how the stomach moves and empties in people with diabetes who have slow stomach emptying.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $379,360 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK131524-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11181323 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with diabetes who have symptoms of delayed gastric emptying (nausea, vomiting, bloating, early fullness) or a prior diagnosis of gastroparesis.
✕Less likely to help
People without diabetic-related gastric emptying problems, those with mechanical obstruction of the stomach, or anyone who cannot undergo MRI are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
You would get contrast-enhanced MRI scans that take detailed moving pictures of your stomach while it digests a test meal. Automated image processing will measure fundic accommodation, antral contractions, pyloric opening, and overall emptying so doctors can see which parts of the stomach are not working together. The project compares human scans with animal and computer-model data to better understand the mechanics behind delayed gastric emptying. Results aim to pinpoint specific motor problems that could be targeted by new treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve diagnosis and lead to more targeted treatments for diabetic gastroparesis.
How similar studies have gone: Early pilot studies and animal work using MRI and computational models have shown promise, but applying this integrated imaging and automated analysis in patients is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Jiande — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Chen, Jiande
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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New England Gastroparesis Consortium: Neurobiology of Gastroparesis
A national project to learn about gastroparesis in children and adults by creating a registry and gathering information from patients to understand symptoms, quality of life, and disease progression.
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Pediatric and Young Adult Gastroparesis Registry and Disease Course
This project follows children, teens, and young adults with symptoms of gastroparesis to learn how their symptoms change over time and what factors are tied to different disease patterns.
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Pediatric gastroparesis: building a nationwide patient registry
This grant funds a national registry to study gastroparesis and similar tummy problems in children and teens, with the goal of better understanding how the condition affects their daily lives.
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Gut-resident macrophages and gastric function in gastroparesis
A study in people with gastroparesis to understand how gut macrophages affect stomach movement and gut barrier health, with the hope of finding new ways to treat the condition.
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Gastric electrical stimulation for stomach pain in gastroparesis
A new approach tests how adjusting a stomach-stimulating implant may reduce pain for people with gastroparesis.
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Peptide therapies for gastroparesis in diabetes
A new peptide-based treatment is being tested to help people with gastroparesis linked to diabetes by improving stomach emptying and reducing inflammation.
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.