# New Hardware and Software Developments for Improving Prostate Metabolic MR Imaging

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2024 · $20,302

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The proposed F31 NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research project aims
to develop new MR detector hardware and acquisition & analysis methods to enable a major improvement in the
clinical management of prostate cancer. This is of relevance to all prostate cancer patients, but also especially
for under-represented minorities. African-American men have the world's highest incidence of prostate cancer
and a more than two-fold higher mortality rate compared with whites. Also, African-American men have twice
the risk of non-Hispanic whites for presenting with advanced-stage prostate cancer. This means that it is
important to identify and stage aggressive, advanced prostate cancer accurately in this under-represented
population. Prior studies by our group have been focused on improved MR molecular imaging of primary, organ-
confined prostate-cancer and detecting response to therapy in bone and liver (distant) metastases. The PI, an
African-American graduate student, has designed the proposed research training in this diversity fellowship
project to focus on developing novel 13C/1H RF detector hardware and methods for increased HP [1-13C]pyruvate
& 1H mpMRI sensitivity and coverage to detect aggressive cancers within the prostate and local spread to the
prostatic bed & adjacent lymph-nodes. This is important for newly diagnosed patients and of particular relevance
for African-American patients who more often present with advanced stage disease that has extra-capsular
spread beyond the prostate and to nearby lymph nodes.
As shown in his attached biosketch and through his outstanding initial research, the candidate is a highly
motivated, successful trainee who meets the eligibility criteria as an African-American graduate student and will
benefit greatly from this fellowship in terms of his research, education, and efforts to promote diversity in
biomedical research. This project was designed by the PI applicant (with sponsor input & guidance) to fit his
career goal of becoming a professor leading advanced MRI technology development to improve the clinical care
of prostate cancer patients specifically, and patients with other deadly diseases in general. This award will also
enable the PI candidate to promote diversity within the joint Bioengineering program at UC Berkeley and UCSF
and ultimately science nationally to expand the number and input of under-represented minority scientists
especially in the field of Bioengineering. He has been highly active in promoting diversity currently as a UC BioE
graduate student and a member of Black Graduate Engineering and Science Students (BGESS). The diversity
fellowship career development plan is designed to expand the scientific knowledge and independent research
capabilities of the candidate. The goals are to: 1) Improve knowledge and research skills in MR hardware and
acquisition methods; 2) Learn research study design and conduct; 3) Statistical and cl...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10913318
- **Project number:** 5F31CA275389-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Daniel Tewelde Gebrezgiabhier
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $20,302
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-01 → 2024-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10913318

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10913318, New Hardware and Software Developments for Improving Prostate Metabolic MR Imaging (5F31CA275389-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10913318. Licensed CC0.

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