Microglia's link to thinking and movement problems in Parkinson's
The role of microglia in Parkinson's disease cognitive and motor impairment
This project uses a new PET brain tracer that binds immune cells called microglia to look for connections with movement and thinking problems in people with early Parkinson's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251254 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked to have a PET brain scan using a new tracer ([11C]CPPC) that targets CSF1R, a marker found on microglia. The researchers will compare how much tracer binds in the brain with clinical tests of movement and thinking in people with early Parkinson's and Parkinson's with mild cognitive impairment. They will also compare these results to prior, less specific tracers to understand whether this signal is more closely linked with symptoms. The aim is to find a reliable in vivo measure of microglial activity that relates to disease severity and could be used in future trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with early Parkinson's disease, including those with mild cognitive impairment, who can undergo PET imaging and clinical testing would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without Parkinson's, those who cannot safely undergo PET scans (for example, due to pregnancy or medical instability), or those with very advanced disease are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a brain-scan biomarker to track disease progression and help guide treatments that target microglial activity in Parkinson's.
How similar studies have performed: Previous PET tracers targeting TSPO produced mixed and non-specific results, and this CSF1R-targeting tracer is a newer, promising approach with only preliminary supportive data.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mills, Kelly Alexander — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Mills, Kelly Alexander
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.