Understanding breast tissue structure to improve cancer treatment
Official title: SCH: Topological Methods for Breast Tissue Quantification
Funded at State University New York Stony Brook · NIH-11062792 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at the structure of breast tissue to learn more about breast cancer and how it responds to treatment, with the hope of creating a helpful tool that can better identify women who might be at higher risk for cancer returning.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $300,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA297843-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11062792 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include women diagnosed with breast cancer or those at high risk for developing the disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-breast-related cancers or those without any breast tissue abnormalities may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on analyzing the architecture of breast tissue to better understand breast cancer and its treatment responses. By employing advanced topological modeling techniques, the project aims to quantify changes in tissue structure that may influence cancer risk and prognosis. A multi-disciplinary team will develop algorithms to extract detailed topological information from both 2D and 3D breast imaging, which could help identify patients at high risk for cancer recurrence. The goal is to create a tool called TopoQuant that enhances the interpretation of breast imaging data.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved methods for early diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies for breast cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using topological methods in breast tissue analysis is innovative, similar techniques have shown promise in other areas of medical imaging and cancer research.
Where this research is happening
-
State University New York Stony Brook
Stony Brook, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Chao — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Chen, Chao
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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.