Using advanced MRI to spot energy problems in the brain after head injury
Official title: In vivo MRI Measures of Brain Metabolism in Traumatic Brain Injury
Funded at Howard University · NIH-11327243 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Using special MRI scans to see how different parts of the brain use energy in people who have had a traumatic brain injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Howard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $389,048 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS123442-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11327243 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have experienced a traumatic brain injury and can safely undergo MRI scans would be the best candidates to take part.
✕Less likely to help
People who cannot have an MRI (for example, due to certain implanted metal devices), children if the study enrolls only adults, or individuals without TBI are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
What this research studies
This project will use advanced MRI techniques that measure how the brain uses glucose and how blood flow matches energy needs after a head injury. Researchers will map energy use across different brain regions to find where metabolism is reduced or mismatched with blood supply. The work combines imaging methods that do not require radioactive tracers and comparisons with existing measures from animal and human data. The team aims to identify imaging markers that could show whether treatments are restoring normal brain metabolism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors pinpoint energy-starved brain areas after TBI and monitor whether treatments are helping, enabling more personalized care.
How similar studies have gone: Previous PET and microdialysis studies have shown reduced brain glucose use after TBI, but mapping regional metabolism with non-radioactive MRI methods is newer and still being developed.
Where this research is happening
-
Howard University
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tu, Tsang-Wei — Howard University
- Study coordinator: Tu, Tsang-Wei
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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.