Radiotracer imaging to measure blood flow in leg muscles with peripheral artery disease
Official title: Radiotracer-Based Imaging for Quantitative Assessment of Skeletal Muscle Perfusion in Peripheral Artery Disease
Funded at Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp · NIH-11252177 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Using special radioactive scans to make pictures of blood flow in the leg muscles of people with peripheral artery disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, United States) |
| Project start | January 13, 2017 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $597,645 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL135103-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11252177 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with lower extremity peripheral artery disease, including those with claudication or critical limb ischemia or who are being considered for revascularization, would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without PAD or those who cannot undergo nuclear imaging (for example, pregnant people or those who decline tracer injections) are unlikely to benefit from participating.
What this research studies
This project uses nuclear imaging techniques (SPECT/CT and dynamic 18F‑NaF PET) to take detailed pictures of blood flow in the legs of people with PAD. Prior work moved these scans from animal models to patients and showed they can reliably find areas with poor blood flow and detect changes after revascularization. The team will compare and refine these imaging methods to quantify regional muscle perfusion and link imaging findings with clinical outcomes like wound healing and amputation. These scans are noninvasive apart from a small injected tracer and are intended to help target treatments and track recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the imaging could help doctors pinpoint areas of poor leg muscle blood flow, guide treatment choices, and better predict risk of limb loss.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier studies by this group and others showed SPECT/CT can reliably detect regional perfusion defects and predict outcomes, while dynamic 18F‑NaF PET for perfusion is a newer approach with promising early results.
Where this research is happening
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Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stacy, Mitchel R — Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
- Study coordinator: Stacy, Mitchel R
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Low-dose colchicine for reducing vascular risk in people with PAD
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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.