# Gadolinium Free Cardiac MR Imaging of Scar and Fibrosis

> **NIH NIH R01** · BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $946,194

## Abstract

Cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United
States. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of scarred or fibrotic heart tissue plays a major diagnostic
and prognostic role in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy
(NICM). Cardiac MRI is a non-invasive, multifaceted imaging modality and is the clinical gold standard
for scar and fibrotic cardiac tissue imaging with use of gadolinium-based contrast injection. However,
administration of such gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) prolongs the scan time, increases
scan cost, and is contra-indicated in patients with impaired kidney function? a highly prevalent
comorbidity in CHD patients. Until recently, GBCA was presumed to be safe in patients with normal
kidney function; however, there are emerging data on long-term GBCA retention in the body. We aim
to develop two complimentary approaches to reduce GBCA use in myocardial, or cardiac muscle, scar
imaging. Initially, we will develop a quantitative risk-benefit model to identify NICM patients with a low
chance of having scarred myocardium. Concurrently, we will develop a GBCA-free cardiac MR
myocardial tissue probe platform based on AI (MyoProbe.ai) to quantify scarred regions of the heart.
To accomplish this, we will develop and evaluate an individualized, patient-specific scar prediction
model to reduce GBCA use in NICM patients with different etiologies by training the model to learn to
identify whether the patient is likely to have scarring based on non-contrast images. If it is unlikely that
a patient has scarring, contrast administration can be avoided. To develop and evaluate MyoProbe.ai
for GBCA-free quantification of myocardial scar in CHD patients, we will use AI to integrate signal
intensity and heart motion data from MRI images to accurately locate and quantify scar tissue. This
information can then be used by cardiologists to diagnose and treat the patient. We will rigorously
validate our risk-benefit model and AI myocardial probe platform using retrospectively and prospectively
collected cardiac MRI images from multiple healthcare centers, MRI vendors, and magnetic field
strengths. Our dataset will include different types of NICM and CHD patient populations to ensure that
our work is applicable to patients with many different types of NICM and CHD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10072898
- **Project number:** 1R01HL154744-01
- **Recipient organization:** BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Reza Nezafat
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $946,194
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10072898

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10072898, Gadolinium Free Cardiac MR Imaging of Scar and Fibrosis (1R01HL154744-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10072898. Licensed CC0.

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