LSU researcher secures $2M NIH grant for groundbreaking study

LSU chemical engineering professor, Jimmy Lawrence, has been awarded a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop safer MRI technology. Lawrence's project aims to create metal-free contrast agents that provide more accurate monitoring of damaged blood vessels and tumors, replacing current gadolinium-based agents that can cause discomfort or poisoning. This development could lead to improved diagnosis accuracy, lower healthcare costs, and represents a milestone for LSU's Cain Department of Chemical Engineering.