Raman-based quick triage for radiation exposure
Official title: Raman Spectroscopy for Rapid Non-invasive Radiation Exposure Triage
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11394229 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach uses Raman spectroscopy and AI to quickly estimate radiation dose in people exposed to a radiological event, helping doctors decide who needs urgent treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 15, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $152,909 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI194010-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394229 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals at risk of radiation exposure in a radiological incident or patients undergoing radiation therapy, with samples that can contribute to triage model development.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without exposure or samples related to radiation exposure will not benefit from this specific triage method.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a rapid, non-invasive test that can separate individuals with significant radiation exposure from those with lower exposure using a hair sample and AI analysis. Researchers will generate Raman spectra from hair of mice exposed to known radiation doses and train an AI model to predict dose categories, including higher doses where outcomes worsen. The plan includes testing the model on samples from different mouse strains, nonhuman primates, and humans undergoing radiation therapy to gauge how well the method generalizes. If successful, this tool could speed triage and guide timely administration of countermeasures after a radiological incident.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with high radiation exposure could receive faster, more accurate triage and timely treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work suggests Raman signals can reflect radiation-induced changes and AI can classify dose levels, but translation to rapid triage remains experimental.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schultz, Zachary — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Schultz, Zachary
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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.