Mapping energy metabolism in human muscle and brain using MRI
Official title: High-resolution Phosphocreatine and Creatine Mapping of Human Muscle and Brain
Run by Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc. · NCT04234880 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new way to use MRI scans to see and measure energy levels in muscles and the brain without needing any special dyes, which could help us understand how our cells use energy.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc. Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Baltimore, Maryland) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 1, 2018 |
| Main results expected | December 30, 2028 |
| Study ends | December 30, 2030 |
| Registry record updated | March 7, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT04234880 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are healthy adults aged 18 and older with no history of significant cardiovascular or metabolic diseases.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with significant cardiovascular, pulmonary, or orthopedic diseases, as well as those with contraindications to MRI, will not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study aims to develop a noninvasive method for quantifying and imaging energy metabolism in human muscle and brain using clinical MRI scanners. The focus is on phosphocreatine (PCr), a key energy metabolite that can be selectively imaged without the use of contrast agents. By utilizing chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI, the study seeks to enhance the sensitivity of detecting PCr and quantify its concentration, which is crucial for understanding cellular energy homeostasis. The approach is designed to provide clinically acceptable spatial resolution and scan time, addressing a significant gap in current diagnostic capabilities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this method could provide a routine diagnostic tool for assessing energy metabolism in various diseases.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach is innovative, similar studies utilizing advanced MRI techniques for metabolic imaging have shown promise, indicating potential for success.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Subject must be at least 18 years of age Subject must be willing and able to undergo verbal and written informed consent Healthy subjects will have no history of cardiovascular or peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, claudication or difficulty walking. Exclusion Criteria: 1.) Unable to understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives of participation and give meaningful consent, 2.) Contraindications to MRI such (eg implanted metallic objects) 3.) Significant cardiovascular (heart failure, significant coronary artery disease, infiltrative or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, constrictive pericarditis), pulmonary or musculoskeletal or orthopedic disease that significantly limit exercise capacity 4.) Weight greater than 350 lbs (inability to fit in the MRI), 5.) Cognitive or speech impairments that would limit completion of questionnaires or fatigue reporting. 6) Subjects with rest pain, critical limb ischemia will be excluded for the study. 7) Pregnant women
Where it's running
-
F. M. Kirby Center and Johns Hopkins University Medical School
Baltimore, Maryland, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Jiadi Xu, Ph.D.
- Email: xuj@kennedykrieger.org
- Phone: 4105980920
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Do Quercefit® or Ubiqsome™ help with aging and metabolic health in adults 50–75?
This study tests whether Quercefit® or Ubiqsome™ can improve aging markers, blood sugar, and heart health in sedentary adults aged 50–75 compared with a placebo.
-
NVTIA Ergothioneine for Healthy Aging and Skin Health
This study tests whether taking NVTIA Ergothioneine daily for 12 weeks helps healthy adults age more gracefully and keeps skin looking and feeling better compared with a placebo.
-
Miricell supplementation and markers of healthy aging
This trial tests whether taking Miricell once daily for 12 weeks improves cellular health and brain/metabolic indicators in adults aged 40–70 compared with a placebo.
-
Does daily lean beef support brain health in older adults
In healthy adults aged 65 and up, this study tests whether eating lean beef every day for two weeks can influence brain health markers compared with a non-beef, protein-matched option.
-
Adaptive computerized training to boost thinking in healthy seniors and those with mild cognitive impairment
This study tests whether a computer-based training program can improve executive thinking in older adults, including those with mild cognitive impairment, and see if it also helps memory and well-being.
-
SHARP: Personalized Health and Behavior Plan to Lower Biological Age in Older Adults
A 12-month randomized trial tests whether a personalized health and behavior program can lower biological age and improve function in healthy adults over 50.
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.