Optical coherence tomography for improved colon polyp detection and treatment
Official title: Colorectal Cancer Screening with Optical Coherence Tomography
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11142667 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work is developing a tiny imaging tool that can see behind colon folds to help doctors spot, diagnose, and potentially treat polyps in real time without routine sedation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $771,459 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA280972-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11142667 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults scheduled for colon cancer screening or diagnostic colonoscopy who are willing to undergo imaging at the study site.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who already have confirmed advanced colorectal cancer requiring surgery or those unable or unwilling to undergo endoscopy are unlikely to benefit from this screening-focused work.
What this research studies
You would have a small OCT imaging probe used during a colon exam that creates cross-sectional, microscope-like pictures of the colon lining, including areas hidden behind folds. The team is refining the OCT device and software to make polyp detection more objective and to provide immediate tissue-level diagnosis. They will test the technology in patients and compare its findings to standard colonoscopy practices. The aim is to find more precancerous lesions, reduce unnecessary polyp removals, and enable some treatments at the point of care without general sedation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make colon screening more accurate, reduce the need for sedation, lower costs, and catch more precancerous polyps before they become cancer.
How similar studies have gone: OCT has shown promise for high-resolution tissue imaging in other organs and early endoscopic studies, but full colon-wide OCT screening and point-of-care diagnosis remains a novel approach undergoing clinical validation.
Where this research is happening
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Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tearney, Guillermo J — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Tearney, Guillermo J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving colorectal cancer screening and follow-up care.
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Bringing colorectal cancer screening to adults 45–54 who haven’t been screened
A grant to help low-income adults aged 45–54 start colorectal cancer screening through the Boston area’s community health centers.
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Increasing follow-up colonoscopies after a positive FIT in community clinics
Aims to help people with abnormal stool tests for colorectal cancer get timely follow-up colonoscopies in safety-net clinics.
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Colorectal cancer screening with real-time imaging that may replace sedated scopes
Researchers are testing a new imaging method called optical coherence tomography (OCT) to spot and treat colon polyps without the need for sedation during a screening colonoscopy.
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.