Smarter MRI tools to see newborns' and children's brain structure
Accurate, reliable, and interpretable machine learning for assessment of neonatal and pediatric brain micro-structure
This project will build computer techniques that let MRI scans of babies and children show reliable brain micro‑structure even when scans are short or noisy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11257735 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If my baby needed a brain scan, this project aims to use machine learning to get reliable micro‑structure information from shorter or lower‑quality MRI scans. The team will train algorithms on large, high‑quality MRI datasets and adapt those methods for neonatal and pediatric imaging. They will test and validate the methods on child brain data to ensure results are accurate and understandable to doctors. The goal is to make advanced brain imaging more practical and informative for infants and children.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are newborns and children who need or are able to undergo diffusion MRI for concerns about brain development or injury.
Not a fit: Adults and patients who do not undergo diffusion MRI, or whose care does not rely on microstructural MRI measures, would not directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make advanced brain MRI information available from quicker, quieter scans, helping clinicians diagnose and plan care for infants and children more effectively.
How similar studies have performed: Prior preliminary studies, including the team's own work, suggest machine learning can improve dMRI estimates, but applying these methods reliably in neonatal and pediatric care remains new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karimi, Davood — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Karimi, Davood
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.