Multicolor PET imaging to show many tumor features at once

Multicolor PET to interrogate cancer biology

NIH-funded research Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · NIH-11306650

This project is building PET scans that can show several different tumor signals at the same time to give people with advanced cancer a clearer picture of their disease.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11306650 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Right now PET scans usually show one biological feature at a time, which can miss important details about a tumor. The team is developing a “multicolor” PET approach that can image up to several different tracers simultaneously so multiple tumor properties can be seen in one whole‑body scan. The work combines new tracer labeling, imaging hardware and software to separate overlapping signals without doing multiple scans. If moved into patients, this would be tested at a cancer imaging center and compared to standard single‑tracer PET scans.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with advanced cancer who need detailed molecular imaging of their tumors and who can undergo PET scanning would be the primary candidates.

Not a fit: People without cancer, those who cannot have PET scans (for example, pregnant people), or those not eligible for the specific tracers used would likely not benefit directly.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could let doctors get more detailed molecular information from a single whole‑body scan, helping tailor treatments faster and with fewer separate scans.

How similar studies have performed: Standard single‑tracer PET (for example with 18F‑FDG) is well established, but simultaneous multicolor PET is a newer, experimental approach with promising preclinical data and limited early translational work.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Advanced Cancer
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.