Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Emory University received a $430,375 Project Grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853), awarded on June 22, 2026, with completion targeted for May 31, 2028. The research initiative focuses on developing X-ray dark-field imaging technology enhanced by anisotropic iron oxide nanorods to analyze carotid hemodynamics and cerebrovascular disease. This project addresses a critical clinical need by advancing imaging capabilities to measure wall shear rate, wall shear stress, and wall shear oscillation at the carotid bifurcation—key hemodynamic parameters for predicting plaque vulnerability, identifying intervention candidates, and assessing therapeutic efficacy.

The project leverages grating-based interferometric X-ray imaging combined with rod-shaped iron oxide nanoparticles as contrast agents to generate substantially larger dark-field signals compared to conventional attenuation-based imaging methods. By exploiting the orientation-dependent properties of anisotropic nanoparticles in vascular flow, the research aims to create a clinically viable imaging modality capable of visualizing flow patterns in cerebrovascular structures with enhanced sensitivity and specificity. This innovation represents a translational advance toward clinical application of a novel neuroimaging technology that could significantly improve cerebrovascular disease assessment and patient care outcomes.