Subtle Medical Supports R01 Grant for AI-Powered Pediatric Imaging Secured with Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital
MENLO PARK CA, March 14th, 2024 – Subtle Medical, a leading provider of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered medical imaging solutions, proudly announces that together with researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, they have secured a R01 grant for AI-Powered Pediatric Imaging totaling more than $2 million over four years.
A new cooperation between Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and Subtle Medical as a supporting entity, has been awarded a R01 grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This funding will help to advance pediatric imaging through the development and implementation of advanced AI-powered image reconstruction and enhancement techniques, aimed at reducing contract-agent dosage and accelerating magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition with advanced sequences for pediatric patients.
The initiative aims to address the critical need for safer, faster, and more accurate diagnostic imaging in pediatrics, leveraging AI to push the boundaries of what is currently possible. By minimizing the contrast dose and scan times typically required for MRI procedures, the project is focused on significantly enhancing the patient experience, particularly for children who are more sensitive to dosage and often face challenges with remaining still for extended periods. Faster imaging processing may not only potentially improve image quality due to reduced motion but could also potentially minimize the need for sedation.
This project is spearheaded by several leading researchers in pediatric imaging including, Dr. Borjan Gagoski, Assistant Professor of Radiology at Boston Children’s Hospital, Dr. Berkin Bilgic, Associate Professor in Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Dr. Ellen Grant, Director of the Fetal Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center at Boston Children’s Hospital.
“AI has tremendous potential to improve the MR experience for children and the diagnostic quality of the images through shorter scan times, lower contrast doses and augmented image quality. Shorter scan times are important to minimize the need for anesthesia. Also, we prefer to minimize the amount of contrast used even though no clinical consequences have been reported because contrast agents are not entirely flushed out of the brain,” says Dr. Gagoski.
Dr. Bilgic commented on the significance of the grant, “The integration of AI into pediatric imaging represents progress in our ability to serve our youngest patients. AI technology can potentially reduce scan time and simultaneously enhance image quality in pediatric MRI studies. Shorter scan times are particularly important in pediatric imaging, especially when imaging patients with developmental or behavioral disorders who may not be able to remain still during the MR examination. The technology has the potential to reduce contrast administration further, enabling us to diagnose with greater accuracy and less discomfort for the child.”
Subtle Medical, known for its innovative product and platform enhancing medical imaging through AI, is a key part in this initiative. The company brings its cutting-edge technology and expertise to the project, furthering the development of AI applications in healthcare. Dr. Ajit Shankaranarayanan, Chief Product Officer at Subtle Medical said, “Contribution to this grant allows us to continue our mission of product and technology innovation, improving pediatric patient outcomes and the healthcare experience with these advancements.”
This R01 grant underscores the NIH’s commitment to supporting research that harnesses the power of AI to solve real-world health challenges. Dr. Enhao Gong, CEO of Subtle Medical, expressed enthusiasm about the project’s potential clinical impacts, “We are thrilled to be part of this transformative project. At Subtle Medical, we are committed to pushing the envelope in AI and imaging technology. The cooperation between Boston Children’s Hospital, MGH, and Subtle Medical exemplifies the potential of public-private cooperation to drive technological advancements in healthcare, setting new standards for pediatric imaging practices worldwide.”
Research reported in this release was supported by the NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BIOMEDICAL IMAGING AND BIOENGINEERING of the National Institutes of Health under grant number 1R01EB034757-01A1.
About Subtle Medical
Subtle Medical is a leading innovator in medical imaging software, utilizing advanced AI technologies to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of imaging procedures. The company’s solutions, SubtlePET™ and SubtleMR™, leverage proprietary algorithms to improve scan times and image quality, aiming to improve patient outcomes and the diagnostic process. Subtle Medical is committed to transforming medical imaging through its cutting-edge solutions, making it faster, safer, and more accessible to patients worldwide.
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The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
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