Predicting head growth before and after surgery for craniosynostosis
Data-driven quantification and prediction of pre-surgical local head volume distributions and post-surgical development in patients with craniosynostosis
Using medical images and computer-based models to predict how babies' and young children's heads grow before and after craniosynostosis surgery to help guide surgical planning.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11295437 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Your child would have head imaging before and after surgery, and the team will use large datasets and computer models to map local skull and brain volume changes over time. They will incorporate age and sex to make personalized growth predictions and compare outcomes across different surgical techniques. By matching a child's scans to a normative database and learning from post-surgical outcomes, the project aims to predict how much local volume correction is needed and whether additional surgeries might be required. The work uses imaging data, data-driven statistical models, and follow-up visits to create objective tools for treatment planning.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Babies and young children diagnosed with craniosynostosis who are planning corrective skull surgery or who have recently had surgery would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Children without craniosynostosis or those unable to undergo the required imaging or follow-up visits are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help surgeons choose operations that reduce the chance of repeat surgeries and improve long-term head shape.
How similar studies have performed: Previous imaging and shape-analysis methods have quantified cranial differences, but predicting post-surgical growth and personalizing volume targets is a newer approach with limited validation so far.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Porras Perez, Antonio Reyes — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Porras Perez, Antonio Reyes
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.