Imaging of Lungs With a New Type of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Called UTE (Ultrashort Echo Time)
![]() |
The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Know the risks and potential benefits of clinical studies and talk to your health care provider before participating. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02862418 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : August 11, 2016
Last Update Posted : July 27, 2021
|
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
This research study has 2 purposes:
- To learn about new ways to use Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to take clearer pictures of the lungs. A type of MRI called Ultra Short Echo Time (UTE) will be used as well as traditional MRI.
- To collect images and health information about lungs that have different kinds of lung diseases to compare to healthy lungs. This collection will help researchers and clinicians to better understand lung variations in health and disease.
This study will involve one MRI session that will take about 10 to 30 minutes and for some participants a breathing test that measures how well the lungs are working. This test is called spirometry.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Pulmonary Disease | Other: UTE MRI |
Interstitial, obstructive, and rare lung diseases are pulmonary disorders that comprise more than 300 disease entities that are poorly understood, diagnosed, and treated. X-ray computed tomography (CT) is the imaging gold standard and the current clinical practice for imaging lung structure and function of patients. Recent advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pulse sequences and hardware with ultra short echo times (UTE) have enabled MRI of lung anatomy nearly comparable to CT without the risk of ionizing radiation.
The overreaching goals of this study are:
- to allow for technical development and validation of UTE MRI sequences as an imaging alternative to CT as well as a future diagnostic tool, and
- to allow for preliminary UTE data generation for healthy and various disease populations. We anticipate this as being particularly important for data on children where variability is greater due to normal variations in size, age and maturity as well as distinctive differences in expression of lung diseases in pediatrics versus adult populations.
This is a prospective, controlled study for technical development and validation of UTE MRI techniques with normal and disease cohorts. This study will use the standard MRI hardware (FDA approved coils and magnet) but will be developing and refining techniques used in the MRI sequences to obtain UTE images. This refinement includes varying the MRI settings to maximize image signal, to control image contrast, and to develop the software needed to acquire more specialized images for the purpose of improved imaging of the lungs. The data will also be used to collect normative data for comparison with lung pathologies.
Subjects may enroll more than once (with separate consent). For these subjects the MRI information may be used to generate data for in-subject temporal variability in both healthy controls and disease groups.
Study Type : | Observational |
Estimated Enrollment : | 150 participants |
Observational Model: | Case-Control |
Time Perspective: | Prospective |
Official Title: | Lung Imaging With Ultra-short Echo Time MRI |
Study Start Date : | October 2015 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | December 2021 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | December 2021 |

Group/Cohort | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Pulmonary disease
UTE MRI
|
Other: UTE MRI
One MRI with UTE settings will be acquired. |
Control
UTE MRI
|
Other: UTE MRI
One MRI with UTE settings will be acquired. |
- Comparison Anatomic MRI to UTE MRI [ Time Frame: Day 1 after MRI ]UTE MR imaging sequences will be evaluated by a radiologist for image quality and, if applicable, will be compared to anatomic scans acquired with traditional MRI settings

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 5 Years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Sampling Method: | Non-Probability Sample |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Signed informed consent or Parental Permission
- Age ≥ 5 years
- Willing and able to comply with MRI instructions
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of any comorbidity reviewed at the Screening Visit that, in the opinion of the investigator, might confound the results of the study or pose an additional risk to the subject.
- Standard MRI exclusion criteria as set forth by the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Radiology Department and Imaging Research Center.
- Pregnancy

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02862418
Contact: Erin Watters | 513-803-7024 | Erin.Watters@cchmc.org | |
Contact: Laura Walkup, PhD | (513)803-4830 | Laura.Walkup@cchmc.org |
United States, Ohio | |
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center | Recruiting |
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 45229 | |
Contact: Erin Watters 513-803-7024 Erin.Watters@cchmc.org | |
Principal Investigator: Zackary Cleveland, PhD |
Principal Investigator: | Zackary Cleveland, PhD | Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati |
Responsible Party: | Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02862418 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
CIN001-Lung UTE MRI |
First Posted: | August 11, 2016 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | July 27, 2021 |
Last Verified: | July 2021 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Yes |
Plan Description: | MRI results may be shared with treating physicians to support clinical decisions if images are felt to have clinical significance. |
MRI UTE MRI Pulmonary |
Lung Diseases Respiratory Tract Diseases |