Better PET Scans for Disease Detection
Single-tracer Multiparametric PET Imaging
This project aims to make PET scans simpler and more effective for understanding diseases like Alzheimer's, heart conditions, and cancer by using just one tracer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171561 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Currently, doctors often need two different scans to see both blood flow and how cells use energy, which are important for understanding many diseases. This can be complicated and limit how often these valuable scans are used in both research and clinics. Our goal is to develop a new way to get all this information from a single PET scan using a common tracer called 18F-FDG. This improved method could help doctors better understand conditions like Alzheimer's disease, heart problems, and cancer by providing more comprehensive information from one scan.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with conditions where understanding blood flow and cell metabolism is key, such as Alzheimer's disease, certain heart conditions, or cancer, could potentially benefit from this improved imaging technique.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions do not involve dysregulation of blood flow or cellular metabolism, or those for whom PET imaging is not a relevant diagnostic tool, may not directly benefit from this specific imaging advancement.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to more accurate and accessible PET scans, helping doctors diagnose and monitor diseases more effectively with less hassle for patients.
How similar studies have performed: Previous attempts have explored using FDG for blood flow, but this project aims to significantly improve the accuracy and reliability of that approach.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Guobao — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Wang, Guobao
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.