# Motion-robust brain MRI for infants

> **NIH NIH R44** · TURING MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES INC · 2022 · $1,909,536

## Abstract

Project Abstract/Summary
The objective of this SBIR/STTR Fast Track submission is to provide a software solution to reduce the effects
of head motion during brain MRIs of infants. Because structural MRI scanning produces high-resolution images
and does not expose patients to radiation, it has become an immensely valuable diagnostic tool, particularly for
imaging the brain in infant samples. Approximately $20 billion worth of brain MRIs are performed each year in
the US, including 500,000 infant scans. The greatest problem for MRI is its susceptibility to patient motion.
About 20% of clinical brain MRIs are distorted by motion – wasting ~$4 billion/year. Currently, MRI motion is
dealt with by repeating scans or anesthesia. Both approaches diminish throughput, while increasing costs,
patient burden, and health risks. In infants, anesthesia causes brain injury, leading to an FDA blackbox
warning against it for children under 3 years old. Thus, the standard of brain MRI care in infants is swaddling
them and hoping for the best.
There are no infant-compatible MRI motion monitoring systems, despite the great need. Camera-based
systems encounter critical limitations when used with infants – only FIRMM's software-only approach can work
easily and reliably. Two obstacles must be overcome with support from this SBIR/STTR award to develop
FIRMM-infant for research and clinical use. 1) Infant-compatible versions of motion-sensing/correcting
sequences must be generated (T1w, T2w). 2) FIRMM-infant usability and its ability to improve MRI quality
must be demonstrated.
The proposed research focuses on delivering proof-of-concept for FIRMM-infant (Phase I) and building and
validating a clinical-ready version of FIRMM-infant across vendors (Phase II). The FIRMM-infant device
provides scan operators and physicians with real time motion information, and in combination with vNav ready
motion sensing sequences will MR scans safer, faster, and less expensive for infant imaging.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10479023
- **Project number:** 5R44MH124567-03
- **Recipient organization:** TURING MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES INC
- **Principal Investigator:** Damien A Fair
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $1,909,536
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-07-03 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10479023

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10479023, Motion-robust brain MRI for infants (5R44MH124567-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10479023. Licensed CC0.

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