Imaging tiny calcium deposits in the brain and eye
Project 2 - Molecular Imaging of ectopic calcification
Researchers are making new glowing markers to find tiny calcium deposits linked to Alzheimer's disease and age-related macular degeneration.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11390459 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As someone worried about Alzheimer's or macular degeneration, I would want better ways to see tiny calcium deposits that may drive these diseases. This project is developing new luminescent sensors that bind to and light up microscopic calcium deposits with improved selectivity, response speed, and tissue targeting. The team will test these sensors in live animal models and compare them with existing scanners like CT, PET, and MRI. The goal is to detect early calcification missed by current methods and lay groundwork for future human imaging.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, or age-related macular degeneration would be the most relevant candidates for future imaging studies using these sensors.
Not a fit: People without calcification-related eye or brain conditions or those who cannot undergo imaging procedures are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these sensors could allow earlier and more precise detection of disease-related calcium deposits, helping diagnose and monitor Alzheimer's and AMD.
How similar studies have performed: Existing imaging methods can detect large calcium deposits, but finding microscopic calcification deep in tissue is relatively new and only partially proven with current dyes.
Where this research is happening
Milwaukee, United States
- Medical College of Wisconsin — Milwaukee, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thompson, Richard Blair — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Thompson, Richard Blair
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.