How adenosine and dopamine receptors in the brain interact
Measure striatal adenosine-dopamine receptors interactions: from molecule to behaviors
['FUNDING_R21'] · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · NIH-11289302
This project looks at how two brain receptors (A2A and D2) influence each other, which is relevant to conditions like schizophrenia and abnormal movements.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R21'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11289302 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers are using advanced brain PET scans in nonhuman primates to see how blocking one receptor changes the other's behavior. They will give drugs such as caffeine and a D2 blocker and then use two PET tracers ([18F]MNI-444 and [11C]Raclopride) to measure receptor binding in the striatum. The goal is to show whether A2A and D2 receptors act against each other in living brains, which has been suggested by lab and animal work. These results are intended to help connect basic lab findings to what might matter for human psychiatric and movement disorders.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll human participants—experiments are done in nonhuman primates at the research site, so patients cannot join directly.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate new treatments are unlikely to benefit because the work is preclinical and focused on animal imaging and mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify a key brain mechanism and guide new treatments or imaging methods for disorders like schizophrenia and movement problems.
How similar studies have performed: Prior in vitro and animal studies support A2A–D2 interactions, but direct evidence from living-brain imaging relevant to humans has been limited.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: WEY, HSIAO-YING — MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- Study coordinator: WEY, HSIAO-YING
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.