Developing new imaging methods for targeted cancer therapies using alpha particles
Official title: Ultra-Low Count Quantitative SPECT for Alpha-Particle Therapies
Funded at Washington University · NIH-10897822 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new imaging method to help doctors see how well a special cancer treatment is working for men with advanced prostate cancer that has spread to the bones, so they can give more personalized and effective care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $567,617 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB031962-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10897822 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with bone metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who are considering alpha particle radiopharmaceutical therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage prostate cancer or those not eligible for alpha particle therapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating and validating a new imaging technique called ultra-low count quantitative SPECT (ULC-QSPECT) to improve alpha particle radiopharmaceutical therapies for patients with bone metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The goal is to personalize treatment by accurately measuring how much of the radioactive treatment is absorbed by the cancer and surrounding healthy tissues. By using advanced computational methods, the researchers aim to overcome challenges associated with low radiation counts that make traditional imaging methods ineffective. This could lead to more effective and tailored therapies for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more personalized and effective treatments for patients with advanced prostate cancer, improving their outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using advanced imaging techniques for targeted therapies, indicating potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jha, Abhinav K — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Jha, Abhinav K
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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.