NIH grants to fund study of molecular imaging in stroke care
A Vanderbilt researcher has been chosen as the recipient of two grants to the tune of nearly $4 million to study the use of molecular imaging techniques tailored to stroke and neurologic care.
Zhongliang Zu, PhD, a research associate professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, has been chosen by the National Institutes of Health to lead the studies. Zu, who also is an investigator in the Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science (VUIIS), has a lengthy history of researching molecular and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders. His contributions to radiology research are notable.
The associate professor has worked for over a decade on the development of specialized MR sequences that can advance providers’ understanding of the extent of stroke damage and the potential for patients to recover. These sequences include chemical exchange saturation transfer, magnetization transfer, spin-lock and MRS spectroscopy. He previously developed techniques for the detection of abnormal glucose metabolism and extracellular pH in tumors, intracellular pH in stroke and high-energy phosphate metabolism in muscular disorders by exploiting their chemical exchange effect, according to his Vandy bio.
One of the grants, a $1.9 million sum for a 5-year study period, will fund Zu’s development of a machine learning method intended to improve pH imaging, which has gained interest as a means of assessing ischemia on imaging. The hope is that the metabolic marker will enable doctors to detect signs of stroke damage earlier, opening the door for them to initiate treatments in a timelier manner. The second grant, totaling $1.6 million over a period of 4 years, will go toward Zu’s study of deep learning techniques within the molecular MRI space.
“I am particularly excited about the opportunity to integrate advanced computational techniques with MRI to improve its diagnostic capabilities,” Zu said in a Vanderbilt announcement on the grants. “Many diseases, including tumors, are characterized by alterations in various metabolites and macromolecules that play critical roles in disease progression. Noninvasive imaging of these molecular profiles offers immense potential for improving diagnostic accuracy and guiding clinical decision-making.”
Learn more about Zu’s work here.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.