Tuesday, July 1, 2025 7/1/2025

HIGH FIELD MRI AND THE LABYRINTH: VESTIBULAR STIMULATION AND NEW IMAGING TECHNIQUES

Award Number: K23DC018302
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/01/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2025

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HIGH FIELD MRI AND THE LABYRINTH: VESTIBULAR STIMULATION AND NEW IMAGING TECHNIQUES - ABSTRACT Dr. Bryan Ward is an assistant professor in the department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where he is dedicating his clinical practice to vestibular disorders, otology and neurotology. He is seeking a mentored career development award in order to fill knowledge gaps in imaging of the inner ear using MRI. His long-term goal is establishing an independent research program that is devoted to using imaging to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with dizziness and imbalance. The candidate proposes expanding on his prior work studying the physiologic effects of strong magnetic fields on the inner ear vestibular system to imaging the fluid flow in the labyrinth of healthy chinchillas and humans. The training plan immerses Dr. Ward in the multidisciplinary research and clinical environments in the departments of radiology, neurology, biomedical engineering and otolaryngology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Specific training goals include: (1) receive training in the physics of MRI and how images are acquired, (2) complete training in MRI safety and performing prospective studies using imaging modalities, (3) pursue additional training in the ethical and responsible conduct of research, and (4) integrate his clinical training in vestibular disorders with this knowledge as he develops into an independent investigator. High magnetic field MRIs can increase spatial and temporal resolution of images as a result of increased signal-to-noise ratio; however, these MRI machines also cause dizziness and vertigo in humans. We previously showed that all healthy humans have nystagmus in an MRI and hypothesized that this is due to a Lorentz force occurring in the labyrinth. The specific aims of the proposed research are to: (1) test the hypothesis that a Lorentz force causes fluid flow that can be observed in vivo using phase contrast/flow imaging in MRI, (2) to develop and implement a cost-effective countermeasure that minimizes the risk of vertigo in high-strength MRI fields, and (3) to image the human labyrinth in 7T and 3T MRI combining anatomic and flow imaging sequences. The study will involve chinchillas in aim 1 and the recruitment of healthy human participants in aims 2 and 3. Completion of the proposed research plan will provide evidence for the cause of dizziness in strong MRI, a low-cost method to mitigate the effects of dizziness in an MRI regardless of the magnetic field strength, and support that improved MRI can provide higher resolution images of the labyrinth. At the conclusion of this award, the candidate will be well-positioned to compete successfully for funding, having acquired relevant knowledge and skills to become a leader in using high-strength MRI to identify new vestibular pathophysiology and improve diagnosis of common conditions that cause dizziness and vertigo.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $198,103 )
2025	2025	THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	5	12/20/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$198,103
														Subtotal = $198,103

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $197,500 )
2024	2024	THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	4	12/28/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$197,500
														Subtotal = $197,500

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $197,605 )
2023	2023	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	12/23/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$197,605
														Subtotal = $197,605

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $199,019 )
2022	2022	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	2	12/20/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$199,019
														Subtotal = $199,019

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $199,260 )
2021	2021	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	12/22/2020	NEW	$199,260
2021	2021	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	1	12/24/2020	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $199,260

Grand Total All Awards = $991,487

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HIGH FIELD MRI AND THE LABYRINTH: VESTIBULAR STIMULATION AND NEW IMAGING TECHNIQUES

Award Number: K23DC018302

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/01/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2025

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