PET scans to measure a brain protein (SV2A) in essential tremor
Official title: Positron Emission Tomography (PET)-Derived Measurement of Brain Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) – a Potential Biomarker in Patients with Essential Tremor
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11303460 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses PET brain scans to look for changes in the SV2A protein in people with essential tremor to help diagnose and follow the condition over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $663,956 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS137042-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11303460 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with a clinical diagnosis of essential tremor who can travel to Dallas and tolerate PET imaging would be the best candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without essential tremor, those who cannot travel to the study site, or those who cannot undergo PET imaging are unlikely to get direct benefit from participating.
What this research studies
You would have a PET brain scan that measures a protein called SV2A, which reflects synaptic (nerve-ending) density in the brain. The research team will compare scans from 30 people with essential tremor to 30 matched people without tremor to look for reduced SV2A binding, especially in the cerebellar cortex. Clinical information and matching procedures will be used to ensure fair comparisons between groups. The goal is to see whether SV2A PET can serve as a biomarker to support diagnosis and tracking of essential tremor.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide the first reliable brain imaging biomarker to help diagnose essential tremor and measure its progression.
How similar studies have gone: SV2A PET has shown reduced synaptic density in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and early data suggest similar cerebellar changes in essential tremor, but using SV2A PET specifically for ET is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Louis, Elan D — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Louis, Elan D
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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.