PET tracer to image brain inflammation and oxidative damage
Development of PET Tracer for Imaging Brain Inflammation
A new PET brain tracer called 18F-SLN-128 designed to reveal oxidative damage and inflammation in people with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11239016 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would receive a PET scan using a new tracer, 18F-SLN-128, that enters brain cells and becomes trapped when it encounters oxidative stress and reactive molecules. The team has designed this redox-sensitive probe to highlight oxidative imbalance that standard 18F-FDG PET does not reliably show. Researchers will develop the tracer chemistry, test its imaging behavior, and compare it to current FDG PET methods before moving toward human imaging. The goal is a noninvasive, quantitative way to see oxidative damage and inflammation in people with memory loss or dementia.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, or related dementias who are able to undergo PET imaging.
Not a fit: People without signs of neurodegeneration, those who cannot tolerate PET scans, or pregnant individuals are unlikely to benefit from this imaging approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this tracer could let doctors detect and track brain oxidative stress and inflammation earlier and more precisely than current FDG PET scans.
How similar studies have performed: Standard 18F-FDG PET is widely used but does not specifically mark oxidative stress, and redox-sensitive PET tracers like 18F-SLN-128 are novel and currently experimental with limited human data.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sharma, Vijay — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Sharma, Vijay
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.