PET tracer to image AMPA receptors in Alzheimer's
AMPAR ligand discovery for Alzheimer's disease
This project is developing a new PET brain scan tracer to detect AMPA receptors that change in people with Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11164813 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will design and label small molecules that bind the GluA2 subunit of AMPA receptors so they can be seen with PET scans. They will test candidates in the lab and in animal imaging to pick the best tracer and measure safety and how it distributes in the brain. The most promising tracer will be refined for brain imaging and prepared for first-in-human PET studies to map receptor location and measure how drugs occupy the target. Results will be used to guide development of AMPA-targeted therapies and to study receptor changes in living patients with Alzheimer's.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related memory disorders, and healthy volunteers, who are able and willing to undergo PET brain scans.
Not a fit: People who cannot undergo PET scanning (for example pregnant individuals, those unable to lie still, or those seeking an immediate treatment) are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this imaging-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let researchers and clinicians see AMPA receptors in living brains, helping to guide and speed development of treatments and monitor whether drugs reach their intended target in people with Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have performed: A prototype tracer ([11C]AMPA-1905) was previously developed but discontinued, and currently there are no validated PET ligands for GluA2-specific AMPAR imaging in humans, so this is a novel translational effort.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liang, Steven H — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Liang, Steven H
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.