# Core 2: Neuro-Imaging Core (NIC)

> **NIH NIH P50** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2024 · $209,647

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – Neuro-Imaging Core (NIC)
The extremely poor prognosis and lack of effective treatments for glioblastoma (GBM) remains a significant
public health issue. While traditional MRI techniques are valuable in determining GBM response to common
anti-neoplastic therapies, novel treatments including immunotherapies, anti-angiogenic agents, or therapies
that alter tumor metabolism may result in radiographic changes that are challenging to differentiate from non-
responsive or growing tumor. Therefore, the primary goal of the Neuro-Imaging Core (NIC) will be to provide
advanced MRI and PET imaging support with established reliability and consistency to SPORE project
investigators for their respective projects. Specifically, the NIC will use quantitative µMRI and µPET for pre-
clinical imaging (Aim 1) and state-of-the-art MR and PET imaging acquisition, advanced post-processing, and
novel analysis tools for clinical imaging of patients in novel clinical trials (Aim 2). Additionally, we will provide
professional expertise and resources for traditional and enhanced radiographic response assessment for the
clinical trials for individual SPORE projects (Aim 3). Hence, this Core will add value to the overall SPORE by
helping investigators to better understand the in situ metabolic, physiologic, functional, and traditional
radiographic changes within the brain and tumor to address specific objectives of each of the UCLA Brain
Cancer SPORE projects. Another main goal of the NIC is to understand the link between metabolic and/or
physiologic imaging and tumor biology to reliably delineate treatment response versus recurrent tumor, which
in turn will facilitate the direct translation of new MR-PET companion biomarkers/techniques to the clinic for the
evaluation of treatment response in ongoing and new therapeutic clinical trials resulting from the SPORE
projects and cores.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10906769
- **Project number:** 5P50CA211015-08
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Benjamin M. Ellingson
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $209,647
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-11 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10906769

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10906769, Core 2: Neuro-Imaging Core (NIC) (5P50CA211015-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10906769. Licensed CC0.

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