# Robust, Contrast-Free Functional Renal MRI

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · 2024 · $472,390

## Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global problem affecting 500 million people worldwide. Glomerular filtration
rate (GFR) is the clinical standard assay for the assessment of kidney function, however existing estimation
techniques are imperfect. Gold-standard, accurate, collection based GFR techniques are time consuming,
complex and rarely used, whereas cheap, effective GFR test like serum creatinine are often inaccurate. As a
result, CKD, particularly subclinical CKD (Stage 1 and 2, GFR 60-100 ml/min) is grossly under-diagnosed and
vastly understudied.
Accurate identification of CKD is particularly important in Black Americans. Despite recent improvements in
outcomes, CKD remains 15% more common, and end stage renal disease 3x more common in Black Americans
as compared to non-Black Americans. Medical policy, genetics, economics and social factors have all been
suggested as casual reasons for the observed inequities in renal outcomes. Unfortunately, until better screening
tools of early renal disease are available, the exact determinants of CKD will be difficult to establish.
Toward this end, we hypothesize that overcoming technical challenges related to motion sensitivity and
physiological MR modeling will enable renal functional magnetic resonance imaging (rfMRI) to generate
biomarkers that have superior safety, ease and accuracy as compared to existing GFR techniques
The proposed aims will develop, validate and test two novel methods of GFR determination in Black Americans
with a propensity for subclinical kidney disease.
Aim 1: Develop and Validate Robust Oximetry and DeoxyHb Dynamic Susceptibly Contrast (dDSC) MRI.
Aim 2: Develop and Validate Motion Robust, Blood Water, PROPELLER Renal Arterial Spin Labeling MRI.
Aim 3: Evaluate Non-Contrast rfMRI in Adult African Americans with Subclinical Renal Disease.
This proposal will consist of critical development and evaluation steps that will help characterize and facilitate
the rapid and widespread adoption of non-ionizing, non-contrast hydro/hemodynamic biomarkers of renal
function for a historically underserved population and all patients with kidney disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10824330
- **Project number:** 5R01EB033916-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
- **Principal Investigator:** ADAM M BUSH
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $472,390
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-05-01 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10824330

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10824330, Robust, Contrast-Free Functional Renal MRI (5R01EB033916-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10824330. Licensed CC0.

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