Measuring brain proteins to understand essential tremor
Official title: Positron Emission Tomography (PET)-Derived Measurement of Brain Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) – a Potential Biomarker in Patients with Essential Tremor
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11072936 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a special brain protein can help doctors better understand and track essential tremor, so they can improve diagnosis and treatment for people living with this condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $679,899 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS137042-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11072936 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with essential tremor who are willing to participate in PET imaging assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other neurological disorders or those without a diagnosis of essential tremor may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the use of positron emission tomography (PET) to measure a specific brain protein, synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A), in patients with essential tremor (ET). The study aims to determine if changes in SV2A levels can serve as a biomarker for diagnosing ET and tracking its progression. By comparing SV2A levels in individuals with ET to those in matched controls, the researchers hope to establish a reliable method for assessing the disease. This could lead to improved diagnostic tools and better monitoring of treatment effects for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new diagnostic tool for essential tremor, allowing for earlier detection and better management of the condition.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using PET imaging for other neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting potential success for this novel approach in essential tremor.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Louis, Elan D — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Louis, Elan D
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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PET scans to measure a brain protein (SV2A) in essential tremor
This project uses PET brain scans to look for changes in the SV2A protein in people with essential tremor to help diagnose and follow the condition over time.
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Vocal Tremor in Essential Tremor: Understanding Physiologic Cues in Older Adults
This grant studies why and how vocal tremor happens in people with essential tremor, aiming to better understand and describe voice changes in older adults.
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A patient-facing overview of how cannabis-based medicines might help tremor by targeting specific brain receptors, aiming to find better and better tolerated treatments for essential tremor.
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A new test being developed for people with essential tremor to see who might later develop Parkinson’s disease.
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Clinical Pathology of Essential Tremor-Related Dementia
A patients-facing study asks how essential tremor may be linked to dementia, with the goal of better understanding risks and potential biomarkers for people living with ET.
-
Personalized tremor relief for older adults using a new tremor-decomposition tool
A study aims to tailor tremor treatment for people 65 and older by refining a method that identifies which muscles cause tremor, with the goal of guiding practical, wearable relief options.
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.