Targeted imaging of inflammation inside heart arteries
Clinical translation of targeted intracoronary imaging for inflammatory activity
This project uses a safe fluorescent dye and a tiny imaging catheter to find and measure inflammation inside heart arteries for people with or at risk for coronary artery disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171581 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would receive a tiny catheter that combines high-resolution inside-artery imaging (OCT) with a near-infrared fluorescent dye called LUM015 that lights up inflammatory enzymes linked to plaque risk. The team will work out dosing and where the dye binds in animal models and in people donating carotid plaque during endarterectomy before using the approach in coronary arteries. Engineers will refine the catheter and software so the dye signal can be separated from natural tissue glow and precisely matched to plaque anatomy. The goal is a clinically usable test that shows which plaques are inflamed and most likely to cause problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people with known or suspected coronary artery disease who are undergoing invasive arterial procedures (such as coronary angiography) or patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy who can provide tissue for validation.
Not a fit: People without arterial disease, those not undergoing invasive arterial procedures, or those unwilling/unable to have an intracoronary catheter are unlikely to receive direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors identify inflamed, high-risk plaques and better target treatments to prevent heart attacks.
How similar studies have performed: Related fluorescence imaging work and LUM015 have been used in cancer imaging, and preclinical vascular studies are promising, but first-in-human intracoronary use of LUM015 is novel.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tearney, Guillermo J — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Tearney, Guillermo J
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.