Improving Imaging for Alpha Particle Cancer Treatments
Official title: AC-225 Imaging R01 Transfer
Funded at University of Calif-Lawrenc Berkeley Lab · NIH-11188989 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,070,638 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB032324-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11188989 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
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.