A PET brain scan to see PARP1 in Alzheimer's
Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase ligand discovery for Alzheimer's disease
This project will create a new PET imaging tracer to show PARP1 activity in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11330618 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will design and label a small molecule that crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds selectively to PARP1. The tracer will be tested in the lab and in preclinical models to check brain uptake and safety. If those steps succeed, the team aims to use the tracer with PET scans to visualize PARP1 in living human brains. This imaging tool is intended to measure where PARP1 is active and how PARP1-targeting drugs engage their target.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be adults diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias who can undergo PET scanning and related imaging visits.
Not a fit: People without AD, those who cannot tolerate PET scans or radioactive tracers, or those with conditions preventing safe imaging are unlikely to receive direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let doctors and researchers see PARP1 in living brains to guide treatments and measure whether PARP1-targeted drugs reach and affect their target.
How similar studies have performed: PARP1-targeted PET tracers have been used in oncology, but to date no tracer has successfully imaged PARP1 in the human brain, so the brain-directed approach is novel.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liang, Steven H — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Liang, Steven H
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.