# Magnetic resonance Imaging as a Non-Invasive Method for Assessment of Pancreatic fibrosis (MINIMAP): a pilot study

> **NIH NIH R01** · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · 2020 · $619,079

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
One of the defined objectives of the consortium for the study of Chronic Pancreatitis (CP), Diabetes and
Pancreatic Cancer is to propose studies evaluating non-invasive methods to detect and quantify
pancreatic fibrosis. Characteristic features of CP may be absent on standard imaging studies. Preliminary
data suggest that certain features on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) not currently used in clinical
practice (T1 relaxation time, extracellular volume [ECV] fraction, T1-weighted gradient echo signal
intensity ratio [SIR], diffusion-weighted imaging [DWI] and apparent diffusion coefficient [ADC]) are useful
for the diagnosis of CP. However, limited data exist in normal subjects or those with definite CP. We
hypothesize that MRI can serve as a valuable non- invasive tool to detect CP, even in the early stages of
the disease. We propose the following specific aims (SA) to meet this objective, with all patients to be
recruited from the consortium’s “PROCEED” study. SA#1: As the primary endpoint, we will evaluate the
role of T1 relaxation properties of the pancreatic parenchyma on T1 mapping in the assessment of CP.
This study will be the first to measure the normal T1 relaxation time of the pancreas in no pancreas
disease controls. As secondary endpoints, we will evaluate T1-weighted gradient echo SIR, ECV fraction,
arterio-venous enhancement ratio, ADC, MR elastography, volume/atrophy, pancreatic steatosis, ductal
features (narrowing/stricture, dilation, filling defects, side branch dilation) and pancreatic exocrine output
after secretin stimulation. This will be the first prospective study to evaluate ECV fraction, and the most
comprehensive study performed in well-phenotyped groups of patients for pancreatic MR elastography
and other imaging features. SA#2: We will combine the results from the primary and secondary endpoints
to generate a composite scoring system. We will demonstrate that an increased number of features will
correlate with a diagnosis of advanced or definite CP with higher sensitivityand specificity. Furthermore,
we anticipate that cumulative MRI features may allow the diagnosis of early CP and serve as a surrogate
marker for the quantification of pancreatic fibrosis. Lastly, as an exploratory aim, we will obtain pilot data
in 60 patients with suspected CP, evaluating the same techniques, parameters, and endpoints as in SA#1
and #2. These data will allow for sample size calculation for a future larger study evaluating the role of
MRI in suspected vs. definite CP. We propose that MRI may be used as a biomarker to assess disease
progression, utilizing a subset of patients who undergo follow-up MR evaluation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9970284
- **Project number:** 5R01DK116963-03
- **Recipient organization:** INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Evan L Fogel
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $619,079
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-20 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9970284

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9970284, Magnetic resonance Imaging as a Non-Invasive Method for Assessment of Pancreatic fibrosis (MINIMAP): a pilot study (5R01DK116963-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9970284. Licensed CC0.

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