# Automated enhancement and correction of brain MRI images that leverages the entire imaging exam

> **NIH NIH R44** · SUBTLE MEDICAL, INC. · 2024 · $931,987

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Subtle Medical, Inc. (Subtle), in collaboration with the University of Washington, proposes a Fast-Track project
to develop and validate a software product capable of enhancing an entire brain magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) study. The proposed system will use state-of-the-art machine learning methods to build a product that
integrates seamlessly into the Radiology workflow and standard patient care path to determine if any
required MRI acquisitions are missing or corrupted, then correct the corrupted acquisitions and synthesize the
missing acquisitions by incorporating the information contained in the appropriately acquired acquisitions.
Brain studies make up approximately 20% of all MRI studies worldwide, and nearly all brain studies acquire
multiple image contrasts to obtain complementary information. It has been reported that nearly 60% of all
MRI acquisitions contain at least minimal motion artifacts. Moreover, important acquisitions are frequently
skipped or forgotten during the study. The result is that a significant fraction of brain MRI studies are sent to
radiologists with missing or poor-quality exam sequences that can reduce the quality of care while increasing
the burden on the radiologist to read a suboptimal study. A successful completion of this project will result in
a tool for imaging centers that will improve the consistency and quality of brain MRI studies and allow them
to increase their throughput by removing the need to rescan acquisitions with artifacts. This will improve the
experience and care of the patients while reducing the burden on radiologists and improving the efficiency of
the imaging center’s operations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10951007
- **Project number:** 4R44MH135725-02
- **Recipient organization:** SUBTLE MEDICAL, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** ZeChen Zhou
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $931,987
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 2023-09-05 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10951007

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10951007, Automated enhancement and correction of brain MRI images that leverages the entire imaging exam (4R44MH135725-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10951007. Licensed CC0.

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