Portable low-field brain MRI for emergency stroke care
Official title: Portable, Low Field Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for Acute Stroke
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11241141 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will bring a small, movable MRI to the bedside and in ambulances to get quick brain scans for people with suspected acute stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $562,739 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB031114-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11241141 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with suspected acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke who present to participating emergency departments, critical care units, or are cared for by participating EMS teams and can be scanned at the bedside or in transport.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with MRI‑incompatible implants, severe instability preventing safe scanning, or those outside participating sites are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the team is developing a compact, low-field MRI that can be used at the bedside or in transport instead of moving you to a central scanner. They combine new image reconstruction and machine‑learning tools so images can be produced and interpreted quickly at the point of care. The project will deploy the device in acute stroke settings, compare its images and impact on decision-making to current imaging, and refine workflows for serial bedside scans. The goal is to make MRI more widely available during the critical early hours after a brain injury.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could speed diagnosis and treatment by providing faster, bedside brain imaging that informs urgent stroke care.
How similar studies have gone: Prior small studies, including work by this team, have shown that portable low-field MRI can produce clinically useful brain images, but large-scale evidence in acute stroke settings is still limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sheth, Kevin Navin — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Sheth, Kevin Navin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Portable MRI technology for diagnosing acute stroke
This study is working on a new, portable MRI machine that can be used right at the bedside of patients having a stroke, so doctors can quickly and accurately diagnose the problem and start treatment faster.
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In-bed wearable rehab robot to help stroke survivors recover movement
A wearable robotic device will be developed to help adults who recently had an acute stroke regain movement while still in the hospital.
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When people are most at risk of another stroke after a minor stroke or TIA
Researchers are combining past trial data to find the timing of highest risk for a second stroke after a minor stroke or TIA so treatments can be better timed.
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Improving Participation after Stroke: Self-Management Rehab for Sub-Acute Stroke
A doctor- and patient-friendly program delivered virtually helps people who recently had a stroke feel more confident, stay active at home, and improve quality of life.
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Targeting a brain inflammation regulator to protect cells after a stroke
Aims to test a new approach that tampers with a key brain cell regulator to reduce inflammation and protect brain tissue after a stroke, potentially lowering disability.
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Predicting brain tissue outcome after acute stroke using AI
A researchers at Stanford are testing an AI system that uses brain scans and clinical data to predict which parts of the brain will recover after an acute stroke and how treatment might help.
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.