NIH-funded research R01 grant

Unsupervised Deep Photon-Counting CT Reconstruction for Extremity Imaging

Official title: Unsupervised Deep Photon-Counting Computed Tomography Reconstruction for Human Extremity Imaging

Funded at University of Massachusetts Lowell · NIH-11541214 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A team at a university will develop unsupervised deep learning methods to improve photon-counting CT images of arms and legs, aiming for clearer images with lower radiation.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Massachusetts Lowell
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Lowell, United States)
Project startJuly 1, 2023
Project endApril 30, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$12,229
NIH project number3R01EB034737-04S1
Project IDNIH-11541214 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Patients requiring extremity CT imaging who would benefit from lower-dose, higher-quality scans.

Less likely to help

Patients not requiring photon-counting CT or those unable to undergo CT imaging.

What this research studies

This project focuses on reconstructing high-quality photon-counting CT images using unsupervised deep learning to handle challenges in image quality and stability. It will explore architectures and algorithms that leverage big data to improve material decomposition and tissue characterization in extremity imaging. The work seeks to reduce artifacts and improve reliability without needing large labeled datasets, potentially speeding clinical adoption of advanced CT techniques.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive clearer extremity CT images with lower radiation exposure.

How similar studies have gone: Previous deep-learning reconstructions show promise but face stability concerns; this study aims to address those with unsupervised methods.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Massachusetts Lowell
    Lowell, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Yu, Hengyong — University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Study coordinator: Yu, Hengyong

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.