Using machine learning to improve fetal brain imaging
Official title: Enabling the Assessment of Fetal Brain Development and Degeneration with Machine Learning
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11089484 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on new ways to take clearer pictures of your baby's brain while they're still in the womb, using advanced technology to help doctors spot any potential issues more accurately.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $442,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS128281-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11089484 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant individuals undergoing routine imaging for fetal assessment, particularly those at risk for brain development issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those whose fetuses have already been diagnosed with severe brain abnormalities may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the assessment of fetal brain development using advanced imaging techniques. It aims to overcome challenges associated with traditional diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI), such as motion artifacts and low accuracy in biomarker estimation. By employing machine learning methods, the project seeks to develop more reliable and efficient ways to analyze fetal brain data, which could lead to better detection of brain abnormalities during pregnancy. This innovative approach could significantly improve our understanding of fetal brain health and development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier and more accurate detection of fetal brain abnormalities, improving outcomes for affected infants.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promise in using machine learning for medical imaging, indicating potential success for this novel approach in fetal brain assessment.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karimi, Davood — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Karimi, Davood
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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.