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Massively parallel high-speed 3D functional photoacoustic computed tomography of the adult human brain

Award Number: U01EB029823
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE Of BIOMEDICAL IMAGING & BIOENGINEERING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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ABSTRACT (30 Lines) The BRAIN initiative (RFA-EB-19-002) has called for the development of entirely new or next-generation noninvasive human brain imaging tools and methods that will lead to transformative advances in our understanding of the human brain. Functional MRI (fMRI) at ultrahigh fields has made tremendous improvements in spatiotemporal resolution, allowing brain function to be studied on the level of cortical layers and columns. However, fMRI is generally considered to have a low sensitivity and strong tissue background for detection of function. Positron emission tomography provides powerful metabolic imaging through radioactive tracers but suffers low spatial resolution, as is diffuse optical tomography despite its advantages in speed, cost, and portability. Ultrasound-only imaging cannot image adult human brains because the ultrasonic waves are attenuated and aberrated twice by the skull due to the round-trip propagation. To address these issues, we propose to develop 3D photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) for fast and ultrafast large-scale neural activity imaging in human brains. PACT is especially well suited for detecting hemodynamic changes related to neural activities. It offers comparable spatial resolution but can be made much faster than fMRI. It is directly sensitive to both oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin linearly with a low tissue background. Other potential benefits of PACT over fMRI include open imaging platforms, minimal site requirements, quiet and bedside operation, magnet-free environment, and low system maintenance. In the last two decades, we have developed photoacoustic technology at multiple spatial scales ranging from microscopic (subcellular and cellular) to macroscopic (whole rodent, whole human breast, ex vivo adult human skull, and preliminary single-channel 2D and 64-channel 3D in vivo adult human brain) imaging. We have revealed hemodynamic response in the rodent brain to whisker or electrical stimulation and mapped the resting- state functional connectivity of the rat brain in the deep thalamic region. We have also developed sophisticated numerical methods for simulating photoacoustic wave propagation in heterogeneous media and developed frameworks for image reconstruction in acoustically heterogeneous media. Further, we have successfully demonstrated ex vivo PACT through adult human skulls and acquired preliminary images of human heads in vivo. We propose to translate these advances in PACT to human brain imaging through two specific aims: Aim 1: Develop massively parallel high-speed 3D PACT for in vivo fast and ultrafast functional human brain imaging. Aim 2: Validate functional PACT in adult humans in vivo by comparing with ultrahigh-field 7 T fMRI.


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: 2023 ( Subtotal = $1,343,256 )
2023	2023	CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY	1200 E CALIFORNIA BLVD	PASADENA	CA	91125	LOS ANGELES	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	001	4	8/11/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$1,343,256
2023	2022	CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY	1200 E CALIFORNIA BLVD	PASADENA	CA	91125	LOS ANGELES	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	3	3/20/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $1,343,256

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $1,310,428 )
2022	2022	CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY	1200 E CALIFORNIA BLVD	PASADENA	CA	91125	LOS ANGELES	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	001	3	8/18/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$1,310,428
2022	2021	CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY	1200 E CALIFORNIA BLVD	PASADENA	CA	91125	LOS ANGELES	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	2	12/24/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $1,310,428

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $1,209,211 )
2021	2021	CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY	1200 E CALIFORNIA BLVD	PASADENA	CA	91125	LOS ANGELES	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	001	2	8/16/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$1,209,211
2021	2020	CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY	1200 E CALIFORNIA BLVD	PASADENA	CA	91125	LOS ANGELES	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	1	6/9/2021	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $1,209,211

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $1,561,831 )
2020	2020	CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY	1200 E CALIFORNIA BLVD	PASADENA	CA	91125	LOS ANGELES	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	1	9/8/2020	NEW	$1,561,831
														Subtotal = $1,561,831

Grand Total All Awards = $5,424,726

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Massively parallel high-speed 3D functional photoacoustic computed tomography of the adult human brain

Award Number: U01EB029823

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE Of BIOMEDICAL IMAGING & BIOENGINEERING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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