Project Grant R01HL186529

Federal Grant Award Summary

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center received a $1,592,755 Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), effective July 1, 2026 through April 30, 2028. The award funds a multi-site, multi-MRI platform research study to develop and optimize hyperpolarized xenon magnetic resonance imaging (HP XE MRI) as a radiation-free diagnostic method for quantifying alveolar remodeling and early emphysema-like changes in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients receiving highly effective CFTR modulator therapy. The research directly addresses a critical clinical gap: while current pulmonary function testing and computed tomography are either insensitive to early pathology or expose pediatric patients to excessive radiation, the proposed HP XE MRI approach enables safe longitudinal tracking of subclinical lung disease progression.

The project deliverables include optimized protocols for diffusion-weighted XE MRI imaging, characterization of emphysematous alveolar changes across CF disease severity levels, and establishment of disease trajectory data necessary for early detection and intervention. This investigative work supports the NHLBI's mission to foster hypothesis-driven mechanistic research on lung disease and positions the awardee institution to advance clinical assessment standards for pediatric CF populations with previously limited monitoring options due to radiation concerns.