Plug-and-play metabolic MRI to image how tissues use energy
Plug-and-play Hyperpolarized MRI of Metabolism on Clinical Scanners
This project develops an easy-to-use MRI method that uses a safe labeled form of pyruvate to show how cancers and diseased hearts use fuel.
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 ID | NIH-11247919 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part, doctors would use a short MRI scan with a specially prepared, harmless form of pyruvate that lights up metabolic activity. The team is making that method work reliably on standard hospital MRI machines so it can be used in clinics. Images will track how the injected pyruvate turns into other molecules inside tissues, revealing tumor or heart metabolism in real time. The work aims to make the technique easy to set up at other hospitals without bespoke equipment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include people with cancers such as breast cancer or patients with certain cardiac metabolic conditions who can safely undergo MRI and receive an injected tracer.
Not a fit: Patients who cannot have MRI (for example due to non‑MRI‑safe implants), who are pregnant, or whose condition does not involve detectable metabolic changes are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help detect aggressive tumors sooner and show whether treatments are working by revealing metabolic changes.
How similar studies have performed: Early human and animal studies using hyperpolarized 13C‑pyruvate have shown promising results in detecting tumor metabolism, although broader clinical deployment is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rosen, Matthew Scot — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Rosen, Matthew Scot
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 below.