Using a new imaging technique to study brain tumor metabolism
Official title: Validation of imaging brain tumor metabolism using deuterated glucose
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11105968 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new imaging technique that uses a special form of glucose to help doctors see how brain tumors use sugar differently than healthy brain tissue, which could lead to better ways to diagnose and treat these tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $581,006 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB033764-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11105968 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with brain tumors who require metabolic imaging for treatment planning.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-cancerous brain conditions or those who do not have brain tumors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a novel imaging method called deuterium metabolic imaging (DMI) to better understand how brain tumors metabolize glucose. Traditional imaging techniques often fail to distinguish between healthy brain tissue and tumors due to similar glucose uptake patterns. By using a non-radioactive form of glucose, this study aims to visualize abnormal glucose metabolism in brain tumors, which could improve diagnosis and treatment planning. Patients will receive deuterated glucose, and the imaging will reveal insights into tumor metabolism that are currently difficult to obtain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate diagnosis and better management of brain tumors through enhanced metabolic imaging.
How similar studies have gone: While traditional imaging methods have limitations, this approach using DMI is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in brain tumor patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: De Feyter, Henk — Yale University
- Study coordinator: De Feyter, Henk
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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.