Improving Imaging for Alpha Particle Cancer Treatments
AC-225 Imaging R01 Transfer
This project aims to create a new imaging device that can better track powerful alpha particle treatments for cancers like leukemia, prostate, and pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Calif-Lawrenc Berkeley Lab NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11188989 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We are building a new type of imaging machine that can see where a special cancer treatment, called Targeted Alpha Therapy (TAT), goes inside the body. TAT uses tiny alpha particles to destroy cancer cells with high precision. Currently, it's hard to see exactly where these alpha particles go, which makes it difficult to develop new and safer treatments. This new device will help doctors understand how these treatments work in patients, potentially leading to more effective and widely available alpha therapies for various cancers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with cancers such as acute myeloid leukemia, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, or pancreatic cancer who might be candidates for targeted alpha therapy could eventually benefit from this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers are not treated with targeted alpha therapy or who are not candidates for this specific type of radiation treatment may not directly benefit from this imaging device development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this new imaging technology could help make targeted alpha therapies safer and more effective for patients with various cancers, speeding up their availability.
How similar studies have performed: Targeted Alpha Therapy itself has shown remarkable efficacy in treating several malignancies, but current imaging systems cannot effectively track the specific isotope used in this project.
Where this research is happening
Berkeley, United States
- University of Calif-Lawrenc Berkeley Lab — Berkeley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Caravaca, Javier — University of Calif-Lawrenc Berkeley Lab
- Study coordinator: Caravaca, Javier
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.