Ultra‑high‑resolution brain PET scanner for Alzheimer's and brain tumors
Ultra-High Performance Brain-dedicated PET scanner for Neurology and Neuro-oncology imaging
Building a much more detailed brain PET scanner to help people with Alzheimer's disease and brain tumors by spotting tiny changes earlier and defining tumor borders more accurately.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145968 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers at Weill Cornell, i3M, and industry partner Oncovision are designing a new brain-dedicated PET scanner called UHB-PET with about 0.5 mm3 spatial resolution and far higher sensitivity than current devices. They will use a combination of laboratory experiments and Monte Carlo computer simulations to develop and optimize the scanner design. After bench testing, the device will be validated to produce clearer PET images of tiny brain regions implicated in neurological diseases and to more accurately outline tumor volumes for treatment planning. The work is focused on improving diagnostic detail for conditions like Alzheimer's disease and for neuro-oncology applications.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with suspected or early Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, or patients with brain tumors who need high-precision imaging for diagnosis or treatment planning would be most likely to be candidates for future scans.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to brain imaging or those who cannot undergo PET scans (for example, due to pregnancy, severe claustrophobia, or other contraindications) may not receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable earlier and more accurate detection of Alzheimer-related changes and more precise targeting of brain tumors, potentially improving treatment decisions and outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier brain-dedicated PET systems such as the HRRT showed research advantages but have been discontinued, and while advanced PET technology has improved imaging, the extremely high resolution and sensitivity proposed here are novel and not yet proven clinically.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nehmeh, Sadek — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Nehmeh, Sadek
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.