Point-of-care brain MRI for kids with head injuries
Official title: Point-of-Care Brain MRI in Children with Head Trauma (BRAINCHILD): Protocol Optimization and Clinical Validation
Funded at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles · NIH-11605228 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A fast, bedside MRI test using a portable low-field machine for children with head trauma to help doctors decide next steps without exposing them to radiation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hospital of Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 11, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $527,485 |
| NIH project number | 1R56NS151828-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11605228 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 7 to 17 with head trauma who require urgent brain imaging and are accessible for bedside MRI at the study site.
✕Less likely to help
Very unstable patients or those requiring MRI contraindications may not benefit from this protocol.
What this research studies
This project aims to create and refine MRI scans that can be done at the patient’s bedside for children with head injuries. It will develop child-specific imaging protocols that tolerate movement and use advanced image reconstruction to produce clear results quickly. The study will test the optimized protocol in a real clinical setting with 7- to 17-year-olds to see if it accurately detects brain injuries and fits into emergency workflows.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, bedside MRI could reduce radiation exposure from CT and speed up safe decisions in the ED for children.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work showed bedside low-field MRI is feasible in children, with ongoing validation needed for routine use.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chaudhari, Pradip — Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Chaudhari, Pradip
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.