Imaging synapse loss after brain radiation
Official title: PET Biomarker for synaptic density changes after radiation therapy
Funded at Children's Hosp of Philadelphia · NIH-11181525 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Using a new PET scan tracer to look for synapse changes after brain radiation therapy for people treated for central nervous system tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $717,125 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA275767-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11181525 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who have had or are scheduled for brain radiation for central nervous system tumors, including both adults and children, would be the most relevant candidates for future clinical translation.
✕Less likely to help
People without a history of brain radiation or whose cognitive problems are caused by other conditions may not benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
If I or my child needed brain radiation for a tumor, this project uses a new PET tracer to map synaptic (brain connection) loss after radiation in lab animals to understand what happens to the brain. Researchers will give targeted radiation to rodents, perform quantitative whole-brain PET scans with a synaptic density tracer, and measure memory and thinking changes. They will compare PET findings with cognitive tests and brain tissue to see where and how synapses are lost, especially in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. The goal is to turn these findings into scans or therapies that could help protect thinking skills in patients who receive brain radiation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to scans or treatments that identify and prevent radiation-related memory and thinking problems.
How similar studies have gone: Synaptic PET tracers have provided useful information in Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy, but applying them to radiation-induced brain injury is relatively new and less tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aboian, Mariam — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Aboian, Mariam
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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.