# NIH grant: Point-of-Care Brain MRI in Children with Head Trauma (BRAINCHILD): Protocol Optimization and Clinical Validation (1R56NS151828-01) — retained record

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[original source ↗](https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/1R56NS151828-01)

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NIH grant 1R56NS151828-01: Point-of-Care Brain MRI in Children with Head Trauma (BRAINCHILD): Protocol Optimization and Clinical Validation
Institute: {'code': 'NS', 'abbreviation': 'NINDS', 'name': 'National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke', 'admin_org_id': '12500053', 'admin_funding_url': ''}. PI: Pradip  Chaudhari. Award: $527485.
Start: 2026-09-11T00:00:00.
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality, resulting in over 800,000
emergency department (ED) visits and 6,000 deaths annually in the United States. More than 30% of children
with head trauma undergo computed tomography (CT) to diagnose TBI, despite CT’s reliance on ionizing
radiation and its associated long-term cancer risks. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a radiation-free
alternative and improved detection of certain intracranial injuries, yet conventional MRI is rarely used in acute
care because of limited availability, long scan times, and challenges transporting unstable patients. Point-of-
care, low-field MRI (POC LF-MRI) systems are portable, substantially lower cost, FDA-cleared for all ages, and
operable at the bedside and represent a promising solution to expand access to safe neuroimaging in emergency
and critical care settings. Building on pilot work demonstrating that POC LF-MRI can be successfully performed
at the bedside in children with head trauma, this R01 will address key knowledge gaps that remain. To address
these gaps, we propose a multi-phase R01 study that will (1) develop and optimize pediatric TBI-specific POC
LF-MRI protocols that integrate motion-tolerant sequence design and advanced super-resolution reconstruction;
(2) evaluate the accuracy and operational feasibility of the optimized POC LF-MRI protocol in a prospective,
single-center cohort of children aged 7-17 years with head trauma across ED, inpatient, and ICU settings; and
(3) determine whether serial POC LF-MRI can reliably and quantitatively measure TBI progression using
standardized volumetric tools and novel computational methods. This project will generate the first
comprehensive evaluation of POC LF-MRI for pediatric TBI, spanning protocol optimization, real-world diagnostic
performance, and bedside longitudinal imaging. If successful, this work will provide data on a radiation-free,
accessible, and scalable neuroimaging modality that has the potential to advance pediatric trauma care, reduce
reliance on CT, enhance patient safety, broaden neuroimaging access, and establish a foundation for future
implementation.
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