Functional MRI to characterize and monitor interstitial lung disease
Official title: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Lung to Detect Regional Reversibility and Progression in Interstitial Lung Disease
Run by University Hospital Heidelberg · NCT07300696 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tries functional MRI scans to see if they can tell different ILD types apart and track whether the disease is getting better, worse, or staying the same.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University Hospital Heidelberg Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Heidelberg and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 20, 2025 |
| Main results expected | February 2027 |
| Study ends | July 2027 |
| Registry record updated | December 24, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07300696 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults referred for routine HRCT for newly diagnosed, suspected, or follow-up IPF, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, or idiopathic NSIP who can give informed consent and lie still for MRI.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are pregnant, under 18, unable to consent, or with MRI contraindications (including prior gadolinium allergy or eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2) are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional protocol uses lung MRI with functional and contrast-enhanced sequences alongside routine high-resolution CT to compare imaging features across ILD subgroups. The study will test whether CT features such as ground-glass opacities correspond to distinct MRI functional signatures. MRI metrics will be analyzed within diagnostic subgroups (IPF, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, idiopathic NSIP) to see if they distinguish different ILD types. Participants will undergo baseline and longitudinal imaging to determine if MRI parameters change with progression, stability, or reversibility.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, functional MRI could provide noninvasive functional information to help detect meaningful changes in ILD earlier or complement CT findings, improving monitoring and treatment decisions.
How similar studies have gone: Prior exploratory work in functional lung MRI has shown promising signals in other lung conditions, but its use for differentiating and monitoring ILD is still largely experimental.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Clinical indication for a routine HRCT because of either newly diagnosed idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) or idiopathic non-specific interstitial pneumonia (iNSIP), suspected diagnosis, or follow-up * Capacity to consent * Ability to participate fully in the study (defined by the ability to lie still for the duration of imaging) Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy and breast feeding * Persons under the age of 18 and persons not able to give informed consent * Any medical conditions that could hinder the ability to adhere to the protocol * Any MRI contraindication, including previous allergic reactions to Gd-based MRI contrast material and renal dysfunction (eGFR \< 30 ml min/1,73 m2)
Where it's running
-
Thoraxklink Heidelberg - Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
Heidelberg, Germany Recruiting -
Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel
Kiel, Germany Active not recruiting
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.