Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) awarded the Regents of the University of Minnesota a Project Grant totaling $615,444 under the Mental Health Research Grants program (CFDA 93.242), with an award date of August 1, 2026 and completion deadline of May 31, 2031. This five-year research initiative focuses on precise functional characterization of the developing infant brain using a clinical 7 Tesla (7T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. The project addresses a critical research gap by establishing robust neuroimaging acquisition and post-processing methodologies specifically tailored to infants, rather than adapting adult protocols. Preliminary data demonstrate that 7T MRI can achieve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) levels permitting spatial resolutions 2–4 times smaller than conventional 3T approaches, enabling researchers to detect individual-specific developmental trajectories during the critical first year of life.

The research deliverables include development of vendor-supported safety guidelines and technical protocols for 7T MRI use in the U.S. infant population, as well as quantitative neuroimaging data enabling early identification of atypical neurodevelopmental trajectories. By establishing precise brain functional organization mapping during infancy—when brain plasticity is high and early intervention is most effective—the project supports identification of individuals at risk for neurodevelopmental disabilities. This work addresses the NIMH mission to transform understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic research, with potential applications in early intervention and prevention of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.