New ways to add radiolabeled CF3 groups for PET tracers
Official title: Novel Approaches to 11C- and 18F-Trifluoromethylation for PET Tracer Development
Funded at Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ · NIH-11471610 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are developing versatile methods to attach radiolabeled CF3 groups to molecules so PET tracers can better visualize biological processes in the body.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Blacksburg, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $329,059 |
| NIH project number | 7R01EB036046-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11471610 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-enrollment study; a technology development project aimed at enhancing PET tracer chemistry that may benefit future patients through better imaging.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient participation is not required for this grant; it focuses on chemical method development.
What this research studies
This project aims to create general approaches for incorporating [11C]CF3 and [18F]CF3 groups into alkyl substrates to build PET tracers. It builds on a collaboration between the University of Cincinnati and NIMH’s PET radiopharmaceuticals team to convert simple starting materials into labeled tracers. The work includes three aims: (1) turning alkyl halides into alkyl–CF3 tracers, (2) decarboxylative labeling of alkyl carboxylic acids, and (3) enantioselective installation of CF3 groups. By applying these methods to tracers targeting COX-1, MAO-B, and related biological targets, the project seeks to expand the toolkit for PET imaging. Those developments could ultimately speed the creation of new diagnostic tools for various diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the methods could enable faster and broader production of PET tracers, potentially improving disease visualization and diagnosis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous collaborations have shown promising results in radiolabeling methods, suggesting potential for breakthroughs with these new approaches.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
Blacksburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Wei — Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
- Study coordinator: Liu, Wei
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.