Dual-tracer PET/CT scans to image blood flow and nerve activity in diabetic leg disease
Multi-isotope Hybrid PET/CT Imaging of Peripheral Artery Disease in Diabetes
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11238505 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you would have noninvasive PET/CT scans of your legs using one tracer that maps blood flow and another that shows sympathetic (nerve) activity. The team will optimize and combine 82Rb blood-flow imaging with an 18F-labeled norepinephrine analog to see how nerve loss and blood circulation relate to symptoms like leg pain, ulcers, or poor healing. Scans will be compared with clinical tests and imaging to better understand which changes predict worsening disease. The approach aims to capture both vascular and nerve problems that can lead to critical limb ischemia or amputation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with diabetes who have symptoms or clinical signs of peripheral artery disease (for example claudication, ischemic rest pain, foot ulcers) or are at high risk for limb ischemia would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without diabetes or without any signs of peripheral artery disease, or those who cannot safely undergo PET/CT (for example pregnancy or inability to lie still) would likely not benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors spot nerve-related and blood-flow problems in diabetic legs earlier and guide treatments to prevent ulcers and amputations.
How similar studies have performed: Related PET tracers have been used successfully in heart and nerve imaging, but using a dual 82Rb/18F-norepinephrine approach specifically for diabetic limb disease is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sinusas, Albert J — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Sinusas, Albert J
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.