More sensitive PET brain scans to find early Alzheimer’s amyloid
Development of sensitive PET tracers of pan-Amyloid-beta species for Alzheimer's disease
['FUNDING_R01'] · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · NIH-11237187
New PET brain tracers aim to find toxic amyloid‑beta forms much earlier in people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11237187 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would be hearing about new imaging chemicals designed to stick to many forms of amyloid‑beta, especially soluble, toxic forms that appear long before symptoms. Researchers will make and refine tracers in the lab, test binding in cells and Alzheimer model mice, and use PET imaging to compare which tracers reveal early amyloid deposits. The best tracer candidates will be advanced toward human brain imaging to see if they detect pre‑symptomatic changes missed by current scans. The work builds on preliminary data and aims to close the long gap between early brain changes and what we can currently see with PET.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be older adults at increased risk for Alzheimer’s (for example by family history, genetic risk, or mild cognitive changes) who can travel to the study site for imaging.
Not a fit: People with advanced dementia, memory loss from non‑Alzheimer causes, or who cannot safely undergo PET imaging are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could let doctors see Alzheimer‑related brain changes decades earlier, enabling earlier treatment or prevention efforts.
How similar studies have performed: Approved amyloid PET scans detect plaques but often miss soluble toxic species, so this approach builds on existing imaging but seeks sensitivity not yet widely achieved.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: RAN, CHONGZHAO — MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- Study coordinator: RAN, CHONGZHAO
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.
Conditions: Alzheimer disease dementia