Portable MRI technology for bedside brain imaging
Official title: Stretchable Coils for Low-Field, Portable MRI
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10906177 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on making portable MRI machines that can be brought right to patients in hospitals or places with fewer resources, using special technology to improve the images and help doctors make better diagnoses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $208,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R21EB034865-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10906177 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include adults in critical care or low-resource environments who require brain imaging.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not require MRI imaging or those in high-resource settings may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing portable Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners that can be easily transported to patients in critical care and low-resource settings. The project aims to enhance the sensitivity of low-field MRI by using innovative stretchable receiver coils that adapt to individual patients, improving image quality and diagnostic accuracy. By utilizing flexible litz wire in the design, the researchers hope to overcome the limitations of low signal-to-noise ratios typically associated with portable MRI systems. This approach could make MRI more accessible and effective in various clinical environments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the quality of brain imaging in critical care settings, leading to better diagnosis and treatment for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in enhancing MRI technology, but this specific approach using stretchable coils is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cooley, Clarissa Zimmerman — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Cooley, Clarissa Zimmerman
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Global TravEpiNet: Pregnant Travelers Health and Disease Prevention Network
This grant supports a national network to improve health and prevent infections among international travelers, with a special focus on pregnant travelers.
-
Soluble ST2 and the course of lung injury in ARDS
A doctor-scientist at a top hospital is studying how a molecule called soluble ST2 may influence how lung injury starts and heals in patients with ARDS and related conditions.
-
Role of airway macrophages in lung health and allergic disease
A doctor-scientist at a major hospital wants to study how immune cells in the airways develop and influence asthma and other airway diseases.
-
Global TravEpiNet: Understanding and Protecting US Travelers, including Pregnant Travelers
A large U.S. network studies international travelers, including pregnant travelers, to understand illness risks and reduce the spread of infections.
-
Gait speed from wearable sensors to guide ALS trials
A patient-friendly look at using wearable sensors to measure how fast people with ALS walk, to help run better ALS trials.
-
Determinants of Post-Stroke Cognitive Outcomes and Vascular Effects on Recovery
A large, multi-site effort aims to understand why some stroke survivors develop long-term cognitive problems and dementia, and how vascular health and pre-existing brain changes influence recovery.
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.