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Project

PET-MR imaging of novel brain and spinal cord targets in ALS patients for assessing cellular integrity, neuroinflammation and axonal transport

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with progressive muscle loss and a bad prognosis. Currently, no curative therapy is available. Important mechanisms in the onset and the progression of the disease are inflammation and axonal transport defects. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) are proteins with a crucial role in microtubular stability. Recently, we validated a tracer [18F]EKZ001 which enables imaging and quantification of HDAC6 expression in vivo in ALS patients. Additionally, (neuro)inflammation visualization is possible using [18F]DPA714 scans. The goal of the study is to examine both disease mechanisms on a longitudinal base and study their relation and presence in early disease, progression and differentiation (for instance with associated dementia which can be present in 50% of patients) to demonstrate the proof-of-mechanism for novel therapeutic targets.

Date:1 Oct 2021 →  17 Aug 2023
Keywords:Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Disciplines:Nuclear imaging
Project type:PhD project