Dual-tracer PET/CT scans to image blood flow and nerve activity in diabetic leg disease
Official title: Multi-isotope Hybrid PET/CT Imaging of Peripheral Artery Disease in Diabetes
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11238505 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | December 19, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $774,541 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL163640-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11238505 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sinusas, Albert J — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Sinusas, Albert J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Imaging techniques for understanding blood flow issues in diabetic patients
This study is looking at how diabetes impacts blood flow and nerve health in people with peripheral artery disease (PAD) by using special imaging to see what's happening in their legs, with the goal of finding better ways to manage and treat their condition.
-
Imaging techniques for understanding blood flow issues in diabetic patients
This study is looking at how diabetes impacts blood flow and nerve function in people with peripheral artery disease (PAD), especially those who have leg pain or serious circulation issues, to help understand how these problems affect their everyday lives.
-
HEARTS hypertension and diabetes care in Guatemala
This grant tests how well the HEARTS primary care model works in Guatemala to improve blood pressure and blood sugar control for patients.
-
Retinal signals in early diabetes and how they affect vision
This grant looks at how diabetes changes the signals in the retina that control vision, with a focus on inner retinal cells and how these changes may lead to vision problems.
-
Integrated Heart Health: A HEARTS-based approach to hypertension and diabetes in Guatemala
A study tests a team-based, stepwise care model to improve blood pressure and blood sugar control for people with both hypertension and diabetes in Guatemala.
-
Low-dose colchicine to reduce vascular risk in people with peripheral artery disease
This project tests whether taking a low-dose anti-inflammatory drug (colchicine) daily can lower heart and limb-related risks for adults with 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.