# ITK-Lung: A Software Framework for Lung Image Processing and Analysis

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2020 · $576,069

## Abstract

Summary
The development and proliferation of quantitative image analysis methods have accelerated research
efforts and are having an increasingly significant impact in modern clinical practice. Although the
research utility of these techniques has been amply demonstrated in determining longitudinal and
groupwise trends, they are also becoming increasingly relevant in the clinical setting in providing
biomarkers for aiding patient diagnoses, monitoring disease progression, and determining treatment
outcomes. Increases in the capabilities and accessibility of computational facilities and a corresponding
sophistication in computational algorithms have only made such practices more commonplace.
One of the most significant hurdles for the pulmonary imaging field in adopting more quantitative clinical
practices and exploring additional novel research pathways is the open availability of accurate, robust,
and easy-to-use image analysis tools. This project addresses this important unmet need by bringing
together leading expertise in pulmonary image analysis at the University of Pennsylvania, the University
of Virginia, and the University of Iowa to develop, evaluate, and deploy a critical open-science resource
under community support that would allow access to multi-modality data and tools for processing and
analysis of lung imaging data. Toward this end, a comprehensive image analysis and data package,
denoted as ITK-Lung, will be developed to address the specific needs of the multi-modality pulmonary
imaging community. This first-of-its-kind resource will be enhanced by data- and domain-specific tuning
that will accommodate a variety of user backgrounds and needs. These developments will be evaluated
through their application to real-world use cases representing the state-of-the-science in lung imaging
research. The successful completion of this project will help to fully realize the value of computational
image analysis in pulmonary research and lead to new insight that may open novel ways to treat, cure
and even prevent pulmonary disorders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9949774
- **Project number:** 5R01HL133889-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** JAMES C GEE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $576,069
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-06-01 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9949774

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9949774, ITK-Lung: A Software Framework for Lung Image Processing and Analysis (5R01HL133889-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9949774. Licensed CC0.

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