Imaging T cell activity in Alzheimer's patients with a PET tracer
Official title: Imaging intracerebral and systemic T cell immunity in patients with Alzheimer's disease using 18F-F-AraG
Funded at Cellsight Technologies, INC. · NIH-11418373 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new imaging test uses a special PET tracer to visualize immune T cells in the brains and bodies of people with Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cellsight Technologies, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2025 |
| Project end | August 19, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $882,921 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AG094397-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418373 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia who are eligible for PET imaging and blood sampling.
✕Less likely to help
People without Alzheimer’s disease or those unable to undergo PET imaging may not benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This project will use a radioactive tracer, 18F-F-AraG, to image T cells inside the brain and in the body of people with Alzheimer’s disease. By combining PET imaging with the tracer, researchers aim to map where T cells are active and how this relates to disease features. The study is designed to occur in living patients to capture dynamic immune processes and may inform future immunotherapies. Participants would contribute blood samples and undergo PET scans to link immune signals with clinical features of Alzheimer's.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this imaging approach could help doctors understand immune involvement in Alzheimer's and guide personalized treatment strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows PET tracers can visualize immune activity, but this project investigates T cell imaging specifically in living Alzheimer's patients, which is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Cellsight Technologies, INC.
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Levi, Jelena — Cellsight Technologies, INC.
- Study coordinator: Levi, Jelena
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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.