Real-time MRI and ultrasound guidance for safer liver tumor ablation
Simultaneous MRI/US for real-time liver ablation guidance and confirmation
Combining MRI with a hands-free ultrasound system to help doctors more accurately guide and confirm liver tumor ablation for patients who need percutaneous treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11211089 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would get a combined MRI and novel hands-free ultrasound system that works in real time so doctors can better see and target liver tumors during ablation. The team is building fast 3D deformable image registration to keep images aligned despite breathing and other motion. They will develop and test the technology in the lab and animal models and prepare it for clinical use. The goal is to make targeting more reliable and to make the procedure easier for clinicians to adopt.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with primary or metastatic liver tumors who are candidates for percutaneous image-guided ablation would be the ideal participants.
Not a fit: Patients who are not eligible for ablation, who cannot undergo MRI (for example due to incompatible implants or severe claustrophobia), or whose tumors are not reachable by ablation are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could improve targeting accuracy during liver ablation, lower complication rates, and reduce the need for repeat treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous image-fusion and guidance methods (US, CT, MRI separately) have helped, but simultaneous MRI with fast 3D deformable ultrasound registration is largely novel and not yet proven in clinical practice.
Where this research is happening
Iowa City, United States
- University of Iowa — Iowa City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Holmes, James H — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Holmes, James H
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.