Using new ultrasound technology to observe how infants move and behave.
Official title: Detection and characterization of motor activity in behaving infants through the use of novel ultrasonic brain imaging technology
Funded at University of California Riverside · NIH-10789797 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new ultrasound technology that can see how babies' brains work while they're awake and moving, helping us learn more about their motor skills and development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Riverside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Riverside, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $193,953 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD114233-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10789797 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are infants and young children who are under 21 years old and may be experiencing developmental challenges.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 21 years or those who do not have any developmental concerns may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores a novel ultrasound imaging technology designed to detect and characterize motor activity in infants. Unlike traditional imaging methods that often require infants to be asleep, this technique allows for imaging while infants are awake and moving, providing a clearer understanding of their brain activity during everyday behaviors. The study aims to overcome the limitations of existing neuroimaging techniques, which often exclude infants due to motion artifacts and other challenges. By using functional ultrasound imaging, researchers hope to gain insights into the motor development of infants, which could inform clinical practices and interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and monitoring of motor development in infants, potentially enhancing early interventions for developmental disorders.
How similar studies have gone: While functional ultrasound imaging has shown promise in animal studies, its application in human infants is relatively novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Riverside
Riverside, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Christopoulos, Vasileios N — University of California Riverside
- Study coordinator: Christopoulos, Vasileios N
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.