Safer lung cancer radiotherapy with smart AI helpers
Official title: Safer lung cancer radiotherapy delivery using novel artificial intelligence methods
Funded at Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · NIH-11360594 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new AI-based method aims to precisely map tumors and nearby organs during lung cancer radiotherapy to reduce side effects and improve outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $541,407 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA258821-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11360594 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with inoperable or unresectable lung cancer undergoing curative radiotherapy who would benefit from improved target and organ localization.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving radiotherapy or those for whom AI-guided localization is not applicable may not experience direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project develops an advanced AI system, CMEDL, that uses CT and MRI data to automatically outline the tumor and critical organs in real-time during radiation treatment. By improving online localization at treatment setup, it seeks to minimize radiation to healthy tissues while maintaining effective tumor control. The work combines imaging, machine learning, and radiation therapy workflows to make treatment safer for patients with inoperable or advanced lung cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive radiation that targets the cancer more accurately while protecting normal organs, potentially reducing side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous AI-guided imaging studies show promise, but this specific cross-modality learning approach is innovative and under evaluation.
Where this research is happening
-
Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Veeraraghavan, Harini — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Veeraraghavan, Harini
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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.