Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) awarded The Johns Hopkins University a $573,587 Project Grant on July 6, 2026, under the Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders program (CFDA 93.173) to develop 7 Tesla (7T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques for comprehensive inner ear imaging. The research addresses a critical clinical need to visualize inner ear structures and disease processes that are not visible on current 3T MRI systems. Current imaging can detect structures approximately 0.7 millimeters in size, but inner ear membranes and sensory patches are significantly smaller at 0.4 millimeters or less. By leveraging higher magnetic field strength and advanced imaging protocols including barium dielectric pads and B1+ shimming techniques, this project will achieve approximately five times the spatial resolution of conventional 3T imaging.

The project delivers three primary research outputs through May 31, 2031. First, the team will develop high-resolution pre-contrast 7T MRI scans to visualize previously obscured inner ear membranes and cristae structures (Aim 1). Second, the research will improve post-contrast imaging resolution of membranous labyrinth anatomy including the semicircular canal crista, utricular macula, and semicircular canal ducts (Aim 2). Third, the project will functionally image the inner ear by measuring blood-labyrinth barrier permeability to characterize disease processes (Aim 3). Validation will reference obtained images against micro-computed tomography and histopathology to differentiate artifacts from true anatomy and support application to otologic conditions such as vestibular schwannoma and Ménière's disease.