# Safe, rapid & functional pediatric brain imaging using photoacoustic computed tomography

> **NIH NIH R01** · CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · 2021 · $614,667

## Abstract

ABSTRACT (30 Lines Max)
 Objective: To develop and evaluate a safe, rapid, and functional three-dimensional (3D) pediatric
neuroimaging modality based on photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT).
 Significance: Neuroimaging technologies are playing an increasingly important role in the initial detection
and subsequent monitoring of a wide range of brain diseases and injuries in children. Such applications include
detection and management of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and tumors, the assessment of risk of stroke in
children with sickle cell disease, and imaging the preterm children brain, to name only a few. However, the
available imaging methods possess significant shortcomings. For example, repeated X-ray CT studies remains
controversial for the long-term effects of radiation exposure. MRI requires sedation due to its low imaging
speed, which poses safety risks. Diffuse optical tomography suffers from inherently low spatial resolution.
 Rationale: We propose to develop a 3D PACT neuroimaging modality that would circumvent the limitations
of existing methods and fill an important void left by the available techniques. PACT can exploit the strong
optical absorption contrast of diseased or damaged brain tissues based on endogenous hemoglobin at high
spatial resolution at depths. Its specific advantages over existing high-resolution pediatric neuroimaging
modalities include: 1) measurement of injury information (anatomical and functional) that is complementary to
that revealed by existing methods; 2) rapid imaging without need for sedation at bedside or in operating rooms;
3) use of non-ionizing radiation; and 4) relatively low-cost.
 Challenges: While widely thought to be impossible, our team has recently established the technical
feasibility of transcranial PACT, promising enormous potential for pediatric imaging applications. However,
several engineering challenges remain to be solved in order to translate this technology to a clinical setting.
For example, a system must be designed that can rapidly image an unsedated infant with minimal motion
artifacts. The imaging system must permit approximately uniform light delivery to the brain and allow for full-
view acoustic detection. Additionally, specialized image reconstruction methods must be developed that can
compensate for distortions in the measured PACT data due to the skull.
 Solutions: Our innovative research plan will result in a PACT imager that circumvents these challenges
and will result in a highly effective and safe pediatric neuroimaging modality. The following specific aims have
been designed to accomplish this.
Aim 1: To develop a pediatric transcranial PACT imager.
Aim 2: To develop PACT image reconstruction algorithms for use with the imager.
Aim 3: To validate the proposed imaging system via computer simulations and physical phantoms.
Aim 4: To validate the proposed imaging system using human subjects in vivo.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10165840
- **Project number:** 5R01NS102213-05
- **Recipient organization:** CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- **Principal Investigator:** Mark A Anastasio
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $614,667
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-15 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10165840

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10165840, Safe, rapid & functional pediatric brain imaging using photoacoustic computed tomography (5R01NS102213-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10165840. Licensed CC0.

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