# QUANTITATIVE TOMOGRAPHY FOR BONE MINERAL ASSESSMENT

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 1989 · $130,873

## Abstract

Over the past seven years of NIH support, the UCSF Osteoporosis
Research Group in the Department of Radiology has developed,
tested, and refined the non-invasive technique for vertebral
mineral quantification by computed tomography.  With this
established history of technical development and clinical
application, we propose to launch 4 new projects employing the
NIH Competing Continuation mechanism.  Our overall goal is to
define and disseminate information regarding the characteristics
of different CT scanner systems as well as develop and apply a
new technique for bone mineral assessment at the hip.

These goals will be accomplished over a 4 year duration via 2
technical studies commencing in the initial year of funding and 2
pilot clinical trials beginning in the second year.  Technical Study
#1 proposes to determine the characteristics of CT scanner
systems that contribute to errors in quantitative measurements.
Its successful completion will allow not only for the identification
and quantification of sources of individual machine errors but
will, more importantly, provide researchers and clinicians with
inter- and intra-scanner correction schemes as a means of
normalizing data generated on different systems.  Technical Study
#2 develops a technique for the non-invasive assessment of bone
mineral at the hip using quantitative computed tomography
(QCT).  Given the widespread concern about hip fracture and the
disputatious dialogue surrounding the role of bone mass in these
fractures, the development of a technique that sensitively
assesses bone mineral selectively at disparate skeletal envelopes
will substantially enhance our ability to understand the etiology of
fracture at this site.  Clinical Trial #1 will compare different
methods of bone mineral assessment, including hip QCT, in the
setting of hip fracture.  We will learn whether hip QCT, with its
ability to selectively quantify bone mineral, has superior ability
over competing modalities to discriminate fracture cases from
controls.  Clinical Trial #2 tests the ability of hip and spine QCT
to monitor rapid trabecular and cortical bone losses in patients
with acute spinal cord injuries.  This investigation will be the first
of its kind to chronicle bone loss, from these important clinical
sites, in a unique subject population at increased risk for the
development of osteoporotic fractures.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3155585
- **Project number:** 5R01AR027926-08
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **SAM.gov UEI:** KMH5K9V7S518
- **Principal Investigator:** HARRY K GENANT
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $130,873
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1980-12-01 → 1992-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3155585

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3155585, QUANTITATIVE TOMOGRAPHY FOR BONE MINERAL ASSESSMENT (5R01AR027926-08). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3155585. Licensed CC0.

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