Ultra‑high‑field MRI method to map brain chemistry
Novel 10.5 T deuterium-based MRS/I method to measure brain metabolism
Researchers are developing a new ultra‑high field MRI method that uses deuterium exchange to map brain chemistry and metabolism in people with brain conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11371473 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I take part, my brain would be scanned in the world's first 10.5 Tesla whole‑body MRI using a special deuterium‑to‑proton technique to read out chemicals and metabolic activity. The team will build and calibrate sensors to correct the strong magnetic field's quirks and keep scans stable. They will develop two complementary approaches: a focused single‑voxel spectroscopy method to measure many metabolites in one region and a spectroscopic imaging method to map selected metabolites across the whole brain. The goal is to get concentration and metabolic flux information from a single noninvasive scan that could be applied to cancer, dementia, and psychiatric conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults who can safely undergo high‑field MRI (no incompatible implants) and include healthy volunteers and people with or at risk for brain disorders such as dementia, brain tumors, or psychiatric conditions.
Not a fit: People with MRI‑unsafe implants or devices, pregnancy, severe claustrophobia, or who cannot lie still are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let clinicians see metabolic changes in the brain earlier and more precisely, improving diagnosis and how treatment effects are tracked.
How similar studies have performed: Related deuterium and MR spectroscopy methods at lower field strengths have shown promising metabolic readouts, but applying these approaches in humans at 10.5 T is largely novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marjanska, Malgorzata — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Marjanska, Malgorzata
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.