Better Imaging for Blood Clots Causing Stroke
PET Imaging of Thrombus
This research is developing a new imaging method to find the hidden blood clots that cause strokes, helping doctors make better treatment plans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11026447 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many strokes happen when a blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain, but often doctors can't find where the clot came from. Current imaging methods sometimes miss these hidden clots or don't provide enough information about them. This project is creating a special PET scan probe that can specifically light up blood clots, making them easier to see. By clearly identifying the source of these clots, we hope to prevent future strokes for patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who have experienced an ischemic stroke, especially those where the cause is currently unknown, could potentially benefit from this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose strokes are not caused by blood clots or those with non-ischemic stroke types would likely not receive direct benefit from this specific imaging approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this new imaging technique could help doctors quickly and accurately identify the cause of strokes, leading to more effective treatments and prevention of future strokes.
How similar studies have performed: This project involves a newly invented probe that has shown promising results in initial preclinical tests, suggesting a novel approach to thrombus detection.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Caravan, Peter D — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Caravan, Peter D
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.