Personalized supplemental breast imaging for dense breasts
Official title: Evaluation of risk-based supplemental ultrasound and MRI screening strategies for women with dense breasts
Funded at University of Vermont & St Agric College · NIH-11385530 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project tests whether adding ultrasound or MRI screening for women with dense breasts helps find cancers earlier and in a way that protects against unnecessary tests.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Vermont & St Agric College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Burlington, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2020 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $737,805 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA248068-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385530 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women with dense breasts who participate in regular breast cancer screening and have varied levels of cancer risk.
✕Less likely to help
Women with non-dense breasts or those who have very low risk may not benefit from additional imaging.
What this research studies
If you have dense breast tissue, standard mammograms can miss cancers. This project looks at tailoring extra imaging with ultrasound or MRI based on a woman’s own risk of developing an advanced cancer, aiming to improve early detection while reducing false positives. Researchers will compare supplemental screening to mammography alone using simulated trial methods and model long-term outcomes. The study is conducted with data from real-world screening settings and the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium to inform guidelines.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to more personalized screening that catches cancers earlier with fewer unnecessary follow-ups.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show mixed results; this project uses advanced modeling to tailor screening and may offer clearer guidance.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Vermont & St Agric College
Burlington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sprague, Brian L — University of Vermont & St Agric College
- Study coordinator: Sprague, Brian L
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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.