PET imaging of alpha-1 receptors in the brain for PTSD
Official title: Development and translation of a novel radiotracer to image alpha-1 adrenoceptors using positron emission tomography for use in imaging posttraumatic stress disorder
Funded at VA Puget Sound Healthcare System · NIH-11247917 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new PET brain scan to visualize alpha-1 adrenoceptors in people with PTSD to help identify who may benefit from prazosin treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Puget Sound Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2024 |
| Project end | September 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX006345-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11247917 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with PTSD—particularly Veterans or Servicemembers with nightmares, sleep disturbances, or problematic alcohol use—who can undergo PET imaging and travel to the study site are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without PTSD, those who cannot tolerate or are medically ineligible for PET scans (for example pregnancy, inability to lie still, or specific medical exclusions), or those not being considered for prazosin are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
You may be invited to get a PET brain scan using a new imaging agent that binds to alpha-1 receptors so clinicians can see noradrenergic activity in living brains. The team will first optimize the tracer in the lab for target selectivity, brain entry, and low background signal, then translate it for use in people with PTSD, including Veterans and Servicemembers. Participants will have imaging visits (and standard safety/blood checks) at the study site, and their scan results will be compared with symptoms and treatment response to prazosin. The aim is to create a safe, reliable brain scan that could guide more personalized treatment for PTSD-related nightmares, sleep problems, and alcohol-linked symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let doctors see noradrenergic receptor activity in the brain and help match people with PTSD to treatments like prazosin that are most likely to help them.
How similar studies have gone: Previous attempts to develop alpha-1 PET tracers largely failed due to poor selectivity, brain entry, or high non-specific binding, so this is a novel translational effort even though prazosin itself has shown clinical benefits for PTSD symptoms in some patients.
Where this research is happening
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VA Puget Sound Healthcare System
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Terry, Garth — VA Puget Sound Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Terry, Garth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Creating a new imaging tool to visualize brain receptors related to PTSD
This study is testing a new imaging tool that helps doctors see specific brain receptors linked to PTSD, which could lead to better treatment options for people with this condition.
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Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation for PTSD in Veterans
A non-invasive device gently stimulates the vagus nerve to help reduce PTSD symptoms in veterans.
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Computationally mapping PTSD to better diagnosis and personalized care
A research project uses computer tools to find brain-based patterns that could help diagnose PTSD more clearly and tailor treatments for Veterans and others with PTSD.
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PTSD, Faster Aging, and Veteran Health
A study to see whether PTSD makes aging happen faster in veterans and how this could affect their health and care.
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Understanding how sensing sounds and sights affect PTSD
A study by the University of Texas Health Houston explores how abnormal brain sensing and fear networks contribute to PTSD and how these insights could guide future treatments.
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Inflammation and fear learning in PTSD
This study looks at how a temporary inflammatory challenge affects fear extinction in people with and without PTSD to better understand how PTSD could be treated.
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.