Imaging RIPK1, a brain protein linked to Alzheimer’s
Molecular imaging of RIPK1/necroptosis as a key biomarker in Alzheimer's disease
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · NIH-11382664
This project will create and try a new PET scan that pictures a brain protein called RIPK1 in older adults and people with Alzheimer’s to reveal disease-related inflammation.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11382664 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
The team is developing a PET imaging tracer that binds RIPK1, a protein involved in a type of cell death and inflammation seen in Alzheimer’s. They will validate the tracer in rodents and non-human primates before doing the first PET scans in healthy human volunteers during this grant. If the human scans are safe and show the tracer reaches the brain, future imaging will include people with Alzheimer’s to look for disease-related changes. This non-invasive imaging could also help researchers test drugs that target RIPK1 more quickly.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Initial participants are likely healthy older adults for first-in-human scans, with people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s considered for later imaging studies.
Not a fit: People who cannot undergo PET scanning (for example due to pregnancy, inability to tolerate the scan, or certain medical conditions) or whose memory problems stem from non‑Alzheimer causes may not directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tracer could provide a non-invasive biomarker of RIPK1 activity in the brain to help detect disease-related inflammation and guide drug development.
How similar studies have performed: Other PET tracers have imaged neuroinflammation in brain disorders, but imaging RIPK1 is a novel approach that has not yet been tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: WANG, CHANGNING — MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- Study coordinator: WANG, CHANGNING
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.