A team of researchers has received a two-year grant to develop new methods that could diagnose and track complex diseases
A team of Texas Tech University researchers at the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering has received a two-year, $157,184 grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) to develop new methods that could transform how doctors diagnose and track complex diseases.
The project, titled “Multi-tracer Magnetic Particle Imaging (MMPI): Tracer Design and Multi-tracer Guided Image Reconstruction,” is led by Kai Wu, principal investigator and assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Co-investigators include Minxiang Zeng and Jenifer Pastora Gomez, both assistant professors in the Department of Chemical Engineering.
The research aims to advance a technique called multi-tracer magnetic particle imaging, or MMPI, which could allow doctors to capture multiple biological processes in a single scan. Unlike traditional medical imaging methods that typically observe only one process at a time, MMPI uses specially designed magnetic nanoparticle tracers, each carrying a distinct magnetic signature. When paired with advanced algorithms, these tracers could be separated and analyzed without interference, providing a more complete view of disease progression and treatment response.
“This work has the potential to provide doctors with a ‘multi-color’ imaging approach, offering earlier diagnoses and more personalized treatments,” Wu said. “It could fundamentally change how we detect and monitor diseases like cancer, cardiovascular conditions and neurological disorders.”
To validate the approach, the team will use custom 3D-printed phantoms to demonstrate the feasibility of imaging multiple tracers simultaneously.
The project also includes collaboration with Solomon Woods at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). A graduate student supported through the grant will travel to NIST to conduct imaging experiments.
If successful, the research could not only improve patient outcomes but also enhance biomedical research by offering clearer insights into complex biological processes.
The award reflects growing national interest in advancing non-invasive, high-precision medical imaging technologies.