# Fast Targeted Spectroscopic Imaging for Brain Tumor Imaging at 3T and 7T

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA · 2021 · $472,134

## Abstract

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI) has proven to provide unique information for the
diagnosis and management of brain tumors, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injury. Despite the
obvious advantage of imaging approaches over single volume measurements, clinically, most MRS studies are
still performed as single voxel studies. The reluctance to include MRSI in clinical evaluations arises primarily
from four factors: 1) increased acquisition times; 2) limitations in spectral quality when data is acquired over
larger brain regions; 3) limitations in SNR and 4) challenges in sampling the cortical periphery. To overcome
these limitations we will develop a fast MRSI method (5-10min.) which uses: 1) two dimensional rosette
encoding trajectories to rapidly sample the brain in two dimensions while minimizing gradient demands and
improve spectral quality; 2) Hadamard encoding in the third dimension to minimize localization artifacts and
provide excellent slice profiles for smaller numbers of partitions (4-8) covering the most relevant brain region;
3) a high degree shim insert to maximize magnetic field homogeneity and improve spectral quality and 4)
dynamic spatially selective dephasing to maximize SNR and sample the cortical periphery. Consistent with
what is the most widely accepted MRS clinical application currently, we will evaluate the methods in patients
with high-grade brain tumors receiving immunotherapy. Although immunotherapy is a highly promising new
therapeutic approach for brain tumors, treatment effects can mimic tumor progression on conventional MRI,
compromising our ability to effectively monitor and manage these patients. MRSI offers an alternative means to
monitor progression, based on tumor metabolism and physiology as opposed to relaxation properties of tissue
water (conventional MRI). Thus we believe that MRSI may provide additive values and significantly aid in the
management of these patients. This work will be performed at 3T and 7T.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10172898
- **Project number:** 7R01EB024408-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Jullie W Pan
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $472,134
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2024-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10172898

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10172898, Fast Targeted Spectroscopic Imaging for Brain Tumor Imaging at 3T and 7T (7R01EB024408-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10172898. Licensed CC0.

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