ODU Professor Awarded $2.3M NIH Grant for AI-Powered Glioblastoma Detection

The funding will support development of AI tools to identify tumor recurrence and aggressive subtypes earlier.

Feb. 19, 2026 at 10:55pm

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Dr. Khan Iftekharuddin, an electrical and computer engineering professor at Old Dominion University, has received a $2.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop artificial intelligence algorithms that can help physicians detect glioblastoma, identify tumor recurrence, and flag aggressive subtypes of the brain cancer earlier.

Why it matters

Glioblastoma is an extremely aggressive form of brain cancer with a typical survival time of just 18-24 months after diagnosis. The ability to detect recurrence and aggressive tumor types non-invasively using AI could significantly improve patient outcomes by enabling more timely and targeted treatment.

The details

Iftekharuddin's project builds on years of work he started before joining ODU, collaborating with clinical colleagues in Memphis. The goal is to create AI-powered algorithms that can sift through the hundreds of MRI images produced for each patient and identify the clearest signs of tumor, allowing radiologists to focus their efforts. The research also targets the challenge of distinguishing tumor recurrence from treatment-related changes like scarring and swelling, which can be difficult with standard imaging alone.

  • Iftekharuddin has received the $2.3 million NIH grant in February 2026.

The players

Dr. Khan Iftekharuddin

An electrical and computer engineering professor at Old Dominion University who directs the university's Virginia Beach Data Science Institute. He is the principal investigator on the $2.3 million NIH grant to develop AI tools for earlier glioblastoma detection.

Old Dominion University

A public research university located in Norfolk, Virginia, where Dr. Iftekharuddin is a professor.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

The primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research, which has awarded the $2.3 million grant to Dr. Iftekharuddin and ODU.

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What they’re saying

“AI and machine learning methods can... distinguish between these dead tissues and recurring tumor.”

— Dr. Khan Iftekharuddin, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

“If it can be useful — especially for improving the health and well-being of people — I think that matters.”

— Dr. Khan Iftekharuddin, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

What’s next

The NIH grant will support the continued development of the AI models and expand collaboration with clinical partners across the country. The multi-year research project is focused on improving the identification of tumor recurrence and treatment-related changes after surgery and therapy.

The takeaway

This AI-powered research project at ODU has the potential to significantly enhance the detection and management of glioblastoma, an extremely aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer. By enabling earlier identification of tumor recurrence and aggressive subtypes, the technology could lead to more timely and targeted treatment, ultimately improving outcomes for glioblastoma patients.