Real-time imaging and dose-guided adjustments for more precise lung radiation

High-Precision Lung Radiotherapy by Intra-treatment Dynamic Cone-beam CT imaging and Dosimetry-guided Plan Adaptation

NIH-funded research Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11310839

This project uses real-time cone-beam CT imaging during treatment to track lung tumor motion and adjust remaining radiation plans so people with lung tumors get more precise doses and less harm to nearby organs.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUt Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Dallas, United States)
Project IDNIH-11310839 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would have extra imaging during your radiation sessions so doctors can see how your tumor and nearby organs move with breathing. The team reconstructs short, 3D CT-like images during treatment to estimate the dose already delivered. If the delivered dose differs from the plan, clinicians can modify the remaining treatment based on those dose calculations. The approach aims to reduce unexpected misses of the tumor and lower radiation injury to nearby structures, especially for tumors near the center of the chest.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are people receiving lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), especially those with tumors that move with breathing or tumors located near central chest structures.

Not a fit: Patients not receiving external-beam lung radiotherapy or those treated with other modalities (surgery, systemic therapy only) would not benefit directly from this work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower side effects and increase the chance that the full tumor gets the intended radiation dose.

How similar studies have performed: Prior work has shown that intratreatment imaging and adaptive planning can improve accuracy in other radiation settings, but fully dynamic intra-treatment volumetric reconstruction and dosimetry-guided adaptations for lung SBRT remain relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

Dallas, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.