Blood-brain barrier–friendly imaging agents for neurodegenerative diseases
Official title: Blood-Brain Barrier Permeable Multimodal Imaging Agents for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-11463370 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher team will test new imaging agents that can cross the brain barrier to help detect Alzheimer’s and related diseases earlier and more accurately.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $576,075 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AG083937-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11463370 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults at risk for or suspected to have Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, including AD, ADRD, LBD, FTD, PD, or ALS, who may undergo imaging as part of diagnostic workups.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without neurodegenerative signs or those not undergoing imaging may not directly benefit from these agents.
What this research studies
This project aims to develop imaging agents that can cross the blood-brain barrier and visualize amyloid, tau, and other disease markers in people who may have AD or related dementias. The work combines chemistry, imaging, and biology to identify molecules that light up brain areas affected by disease. If successful, these agents could enable earlier diagnosis and better tracking of disease progression in patients. Participants would ideally include individuals at risk for or suspected of having neurodegenerative conditions, contributing to safer, more targeted diagnostics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive earlier and more precise diagnoses, improving care planning and enabling better monitoring of treatment responses.
How similar studies have gone: Past imaging agents have shown proof-of-concept, but crossing the blood-brain barrier and targeting multiple proteinopathies remains challenging, making this approach promising yet exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mirica, Liviu M — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Mirica, Liviu M
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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.