Personalized cancer treatment using advanced imaging techniques

Personalized Cancer Therapy Guided by Photoacoustic Chemical Imaging (PACI) of Tumor Microenvironment (TME)

NIH-funded research University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11080255

This study is exploring a new way to see and measure important chemicals in tumors that can affect how well cancer treatments work, so that doctors can create more personalized and effective treatment plans just for you.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Ann Arbor, United States)
Project IDNIH-11080255 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing a new method to visualize and measure key chemical factors in tumors that affect how well cancer treatments work. By using innovative photoacoustic imaging combined with special nanoprobes, the study aims to non-invasively map the levels of oxygen, acidity, and potassium in the tumor microenvironment. This information will help tailor cancer therapies to individual patients by understanding how these factors influence treatment responses. Patients may benefit from more effective and personalized treatment plans based on their unique tumor characteristics.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with solid tumors, particularly those undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Not a fit: Patients with non-solid tumors or those who are not currently receiving cancer treatment may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and personalized cancer therapies that improve treatment outcomes for patients.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in using imaging techniques to improve cancer treatment, but this specific approach with photoacoustic imaging and chemical sensing is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

Ann Arbor, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions anti-cancer immunotherapyanti-cancer therapyanticancer immunotherapy
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.