Rapid AI-guided tumor imaging during brain surgery
Clinical Translation of Stimulated Raman Histology
Using a fast, label-free laser imaging device plus AI to reveal molecular features of brain tumors in people having surgery so doctors can make quicker treatment choices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11144451 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are having a biopsy or surgery for a suspected brain tumor, this approach uses stimulated Raman histology — a label-free laser imaging technique — to capture microscopic images at the bedside in under two minutes. An artificial intelligence algorithm then analyzes those images to predict molecular and genetic features that normally take days or weeks to obtain. The team has already validated the imaging-plus-AI method for morphological diagnosis and is expanding it to give rapid molecular screening during or right after biopsy. The goal is to help surgeons decide how much tumor to remove and to speed identification of patients who may benefit from targeted therapies or clinical trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People undergoing biopsy or resection for suspected diffuse glioma or other brain tumors at participating hospitals are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without brain tumors, those not having surgical biopsy/resection, or tumors that cannot be characterized by this imaging method are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give surgeons molecular information within minutes during surgery, enabling safer, more personalized operations and faster access to targeted treatments or trials.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier work combining stimulated Raman histology with AI has accurately matched traditional pathology for tumor diagnosis (Hollon et al., Nature Medicine 2020), though rapid intraoperative molecular screening is a newer application.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Orringer, Daniel — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Orringer, Daniel
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.