Making tau PET brain scans comparable across hospitals
Longitudinal multicenter head-to-head harmonization of tau PET tracers
This project compares two types of tau PET brain scans to make results clearer for people with or at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11408347 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work brings together brain PET scans from many hospitals to directly compare two commonly used tau tracers, [18F]Flortaucipir and [18F]MK-6240. Researchers will track changes over time and develop ways to harmonize measurements so scans from different tracers and sites can be interpreted together. The team will use existing and new imaging data from people with Alzheimer’s, mild cognitive impairment, and older adults to test conversion methods and quality-control procedures. If you undergo a tau PET scan at a participating center, the results could be translated more reliably across clinics and trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, or older adults who are having or can have a tau PET scan at a participating imaging center are the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People who will not have tau PET imaging or who have conditions unrelated to tau pathology are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make tau PET scan results more consistent across centers, helping doctors better interpret scans and compare results from different clinics or trials.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have shown both tracers reflect known tau patterns and that MK-6240 has higher affinity, but large-scale, head-to-head multicenter harmonization is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pascoal, Tharick — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Pascoal, Tharick
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.