Precision 3D imaging to improve Kaposi sarcoma care
Official title: PRecision IMaging to Evaluate Kaposi Sarcoma (PRIME-KS)
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11400231 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A portable 3D camera with built-in AI will be used to measure Kaposi sarcoma skin lesions more precisely for people getting KS care in East Africa.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | August 7, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $122,208 |
| NIH project number | 3U01CA292765-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400231 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with visible Kaposi sarcoma skin lesions who receive care at participating clinics in East Africa (for example, sites in Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, or Kenya).
✕Less likely to help
People with only internal (visceral) Kaposi sarcoma, those not treated at participating clinics, or anyone unable to attend imaging visits would likely not benefit directly from this effort.
What this research studies
You would have your skin lesions photographed with a small portable 3D imaging device (SkinScan3D) that captures lesion height, area, and volume. The device combines liquid-lens optics and AI to turn images into objective size measurements rather than relying only on visual checks. Researchers will work directly with clinicians, nurses, and patients at clinics in East Africa to refine how the device is used and fit it into normal clinic visits. The aim is to make tracking response to therapy faster, less subjective, and more practical in busy clinics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give your care team more accurate, objective measurements so treatment can be tailored and unnecessary chemotherapy exposure reduced.
How similar studies have gone: Some prior digital-photo and AI efforts have helped track skin lesions, but combining portable high-resolution 3D imaging with AI for Kaposi sarcoma is largely novel and still being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Odeny, Thomas — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Odeny, Thomas
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Precision 3D Imaging to Monitor Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) with SkinScan3D
A new portable 3D imaging tool called SkinScan3D will help doctors measure KS skin lesions more accurately and quickly, especially in people living with HIV.
-
Precision 3D Imaging to Track Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) with SkinScan3D
A new 3D imaging tool called SkinScan3D helps doctors monitor Kaposi sarcoma lesions more accurately and quickly, especially in settings with high KS burden like East Africa and in U.S. clinics with HIV patients.
-
Kaposi Sarcoma care and research in Africa during ART era
A collaborative program to better understand and improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Kaposi sarcoma for people living with HIV in Zambia and Tanzania.
-
Kaposi Sarcoma in Africa: ART Era Research Network
A collaborative program in Africa and the United States will study Kaposi sarcoma in people living with HIV on ART to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
-
Kaposi Sarcoma in Africa in the ART Era
This grant supports research to improve how Kaposi sarcoma is detected, treated, and understood in people living with HIV in Zambia and Tanzania during ART, with collaboration between African hospitals and a U.S. center.
-
Faster detection and connection to care for people with HIV who develop Kaposi sarcoma in East Africa
This project aims to speed up finding people with HIV diagnosed with Kaposi sarcoma in East Africa and help them get linked to care more quickly.
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.