Brain PET/CT Scanner for Alzheimer's research at Pitt
Official title: United Imaging uNeuroExplorer Brain PET/CT Scanner
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11338681 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new brain PET/CT scanner will modernize Pittsburgh’s imaging program to support ongoing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia research.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2026 |
| Project end | July 14, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,000,000 |
| NIH project number | 1S10OD040152-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11338681 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Research participants with memory concerns or suspected Alzheimer’s disease who may be involved in imaging studies through Pitt’s projects.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not involved in imaging research or whose studies are not using the PET/CT scanner may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This grant funds a state‑of‑the‑art brain PET/CT scanner to replace an aging system and keep Pitt’s neuroimaging program productive. Researchers across multiple departments will use the scanner to carry out NIH‑funded projects and collaborations with industry and foundations. The goal is to improve image quality, data reliability, and translational research in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Access to this equipment will benefit patients by accelerating brain imaging studies that could inform diagnosis and future treatments. Overall, the project supports sustaining a high‑caliber imaging core that can contribute to advances in brain health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Improved brain imaging capability could lead to faster, more accurate understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, potentially guiding better diagnosis and treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous generations of PET imaging have driven major advances in Alzheimer’s research, and this upgrade builds on proven success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Snyder, Scott E — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Snyder, Scott E
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Adding PSMA PET/CT imaging to liver cancer care for veterans
This project tests a new PET imaging approach to help diagnose and guide treatment for liver cancer in veterans.
-
New ways to cut radiation and time in kids’ PET/CT scans
A project to dramatically reduce radiation dose and scan time for pediatric PET/CT imaging using new deep learning tools so children diagnosed with cancer (and other conditions) can stay safe during imaging.
-
High-Performance Brain PET Imaging with Whole-Body PET for Cancer Care
A new brain PET scanner, used with a whole-body PET, could improve cancer diagnosis and monitoring by giving sharper brain and body images in one session.
-
PET/CT imaging to detect chemotherapy-related vascular harm in young cancer patients
A non-invasive PET/CT scan method using standard care imaging is being tested to identify which pediatric and young adult cancer patients are at higher risk of blood clots from chemotherapy.
-
Advanced motion correction for cardiac PET/CT to improve cancer patient care
A Yale-led project will develop data-driven motion correction methods to improve heart PET/CT images in cancer patients, using 82Rb tracer without external tracking.
-
Dual-tracer PET/CT scans to image blood flow and nerve activity in diabetic leg disease
This work uses two PET tracers to take detailed pictures of blood flow and nerve signals in people with diabetes who have or are at risk for peripheral artery disease.
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.