Real-time endoscopic imaging to better identify high-risk pancreatic cysts
Official title: Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided In Vivo Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy as an Imaging Biomarker for the Accurate Risk Stratification of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11300204 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests a new endoscopic imaging technique combined with AI to help doctors tell which branch-duct IPMN pancreatic cysts are likely to be cancerous.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $451,844 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA279965-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11300204 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with branch-duct IPMNs or other pancreatic cysts who are scheduled for endoscopic ultrasound with possible biopsy or who are weighing surgery.
✕Less likely to help
People without pancreatic cysts, those already diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer, or those who cannot undergo endoscopy are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
If you have a pancreatic cyst called a branch-duct IPMN, standard tests often miss cancers or lead to unnecessary surgery. This research uses a tiny confocal laser probe passed through the biopsy needle during endoscopic ultrasound to take live, microscopic images of the cyst lining and applies advanced image analysis/AI to detect worrying features. Researchers will compare these images and AI results with surgical pathology and clinical follow-up to see how well the approach classifies risk. The aim is to find cancers earlier and reduce needless operations and their complications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could more accurately find cysts that need surgery and spare many patients from unnecessary operations.
How similar studies have gone: Needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy has shown promising but not definitive results in earlier studies, and this project aims to validate and enhance those findings using modern AI tools.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Krishna, Somashekar G. — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Krishna, Somashekar G.
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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.