Comparing common tau PET brain scans used in Alzheimer's across multiple centers
Longitudinal multicenter head-to-head harmonization of tau PET tracers
This project compares two widely used PET brain scans that detect tau protein in people with Alzheimer's to make scan results more consistent across hospitals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11117047 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you'll be part of a multicenter effort comparing two tau PET tracers, [18F]Flortaucipir and [18F]MK-6240, that image tau protein in the brain. Researchers will collect and compare scans from many sites and follow changes over time to see how each tracer measures tau and where off‑target signals appear. They will develop methods to harmonize or translate results so scans done with different tracers and at different centers can be compared reliably. The work aims to reduce misleading differences so clinicians and clinical trials can use tau PET more consistently.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with Alzheimer's disease or suspected Alzheimer's who receive or are eligible for tau PET imaging at participating centers.
Not a fit: People without suspected Alzheimer's, those whose care does not include tau PET imaging, or those who cannot travel to participating centers are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make tau PET scans more reliable across sites, improving diagnosis, monitoring of disease progression, and patient selection for trials.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work shows both tracers reflect postmortem tau patterns but differ in binding and off‑target signals, and large-scale head-to-head harmonization across many centers is a more recent effort.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pascoal, Tharick — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Pascoal, Tharick
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.