Understanding how brain aneurysm walls and shape change over time
Official title: Investigation of the quantitative intracranial aneurysm wall enhancement and geometric features associated with aneurysm volume growth
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11396260 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how small brain aneurysms grow and whether MRI features of the aneurysm wall and its shape can predict growth so doctors can better decide when treatment is needed.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $474,269 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL162743-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11396260 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with unruptured intracranial aneurysms undergoing imaging, particularly those being evaluated for growth or rupture risk.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without aneurysms or those not undergoing MRI-based vessel wall imaging may not benefit.
What this research studies
The project focuses on intracranial aneurysms and uses advanced 3D imaging and MRI to look at the aneurysm wall and geometry. By tracking aneurysm changes over several years, researchers hope to identify patterns that signal higher rupture risk. The goal is to refine imaging techniques to reduce artifacts and improve the accuracy of predicting which aneurysms will grow or rupture. This information could help personalize treatment decisions and potentially prevent hemorrhages.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with unruptured brain aneurysms could receive more precise risk assessments and targeted intervention decisions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous analyses suggest growth is linked to higher rupture risk, but improved imaging methods are needed for reliable prediction.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhu, Chengcheng — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Zhu, Chengcheng
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Predicting brain aneurysm growth with advanced 4D MRI and tensor math
A research project uses 4D flow MRI and new math models to predict how brain aneurysms grow over time, helping doctors decide on safer treatments for people with UIAs.
-
How aging and aged (senescent) cells may cause brain aneurysm rupture
This research tests whether removing aging 'senescent' cells can lower the chance that a brain aneurysm will burst for people with intracranial aneurysms.
-
Reprogramming blood-vessel lining cells in inherited brain aneurysms
This project aims to find out whether fixing gene-related changes in the cells that line brain arteries can lower aneurysm risk in people with a family history.
-
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Testing whether podosomes — small structures inside blood vessel cells — make brain arteries weaker and raise the risk of aneurysm rupture for people with or at risk of brain aneurysms.
-
How cells' cleanup of vessel attachments may affect brain aneurysms
This project looks at whether a cellular cleanup process in blood‑vessel lining cells weakens brain arteries and contributes to aneurysms in people at risk for intracranial aneurysm.
-
Improved MRI methods to find small brain aneurysms likely to grow
Using improved MRI scans to find inflammation and shape changes that show which small brain aneurysms may grow in people with unruptured aneurysms.
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.