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Alzheimer DiseaseEarly Phase 1NCT04274998

Neuroinflammation Imaging in AD

A Early Phase 1 study testing [18F]NOS and [11C]PBR28 in people with Alzheimer Disease and Healthy Volunteer, run by University of Pennsylvania at 1 site in United States.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

This research study is being done to learn more about inflammation in the brain using Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) imaging in people with Alzheimer's Disease/Mild Cognitive Impairment or healthy controls. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 55 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Alzheimer Disease, Healthy Volunteer
What is being tested?
[18F]NOS and [11C]PBR28
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
9 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
3 Mar 2020to 1 Mar 2027
Phase
Early Phase 1
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 55 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • - Males and females ≥ 55 years of age
  • Part of the UPenn ADC research cohort with designation of cognitively normal per ADC database.
  • A brain amyloid PET scan ≤ 1 year prior to enrollment in this study that is determined to be negative by the study PI.
  • Mini-mental status exam (MMSE) score of 28 or higher per ADC database.
  • Participants must be informed of the investigational nature of this study and be willing to provide written informed consent and participate in this study in accordance with institutional and federal guidelines prior to study-specific procedures.
  • Males and females ≥ 55 years of age
Show all 12Show fewer
  • Part of the Upenn ADC research cohort with designation that the presence of Alzheimer's pathology is likely per ADC database.
  • A brain amyloid PET scan ≤ 1 year prior to enrollment in this study that is determined to be positive by the study PI.
  • Mini-mental status exam (MMSE) score of 14-27 per ADC database.
  • Subjects must have a designated study partner to accompany them to study visits
  • Inclusion Criteria 11C-PBR28 sub-study (both HC and AD/MCI cohorts)
  • 1. High affinity carrier of the rs6971 TSPO polymorphism (whole genome sequencing is available from the UPenn ADC research cohort and will be interrogated for this polymorphism)

Who cannot join

  • Females of child-bearing potential will not be included, female subjects must be post-menopausal or surgically sterile
  • History of epilepsy or seizure disorder as assessed by medical record review and/or self-report
  • History of head trauma or evidence of structural abnormalities such as a major stroke or mass on MRI that in the opinion of an investigator may interfere with the uptake of applicable radiotracer as assessed by medical record review and/or self-report
  • Current tobacco or nicotine dependence. History of greater than 5 pack years of smoking and less than 2 years since smoking cessation.
  • Have a history of significant or ongoing alcohol abuse or substance abuse or dependence based on medical record review or self-reported
  • Inability to tolerate imaging procedures in the opinion of an investigator or treating physician
  • Any current medical condition, illness, or disorder as assessed by medical record review and/or self-reported that is considered by a physician or investigator to be a condition that could compromise participant safety or successful participation in the study

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site

  • University of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Evaluation of in Vivo Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's Disease Using Novel Positron Emission Tomography (PET/CT) Imaging

This research study is being done to learn more about inflammation in the brain using Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) imaging in people with Alzheimer's Disease/Mild Cognitive Impairment or healthy controls.

If the subject agrees to be in this study, she/ he will have a PET/CT scan using the investigational radiotracer [18F]NOS. A subject with a specific genetic polymorphism may also agree to be in the sub-study in which she/he will have another PET/CT scan using the investigational tracer [11C]PBR28 for comparison with the FNOS [18F]NOS scan. For subjects who agree to this sub-study they may undergo the brain PET/CT scan with [11C]PBR28 either on the same day as the [18F]NOS PET/CT or on another day. The subject may have a screening visit before the PET/CT scan visit if the investigator needs to confirm the subject is able to be in the study.

A blood sample will be taken before the scans. Additional blood samples will be taken during the PET scans. Subjects must also agree to have an MRI scan for this research study if she/he has not had a recent scan that the study doctor decides can be used for this study.

Being tested
[18F]NOS, [11C]PBR28
Medical subject headings
Alzheimer Disease

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • [18F]NOSDrug

    Main Study: PET/CT imaging will be used to evaluate neuroinflammation in the brain using the investigational radiotracer [18F]NOS.

  • [11C]PBR28Drug

    Sub-Study: Additional PET/CT imaging will be used to evaluate neuroinflammation in the brain for subjects with specific genetic polymorphism using the investigational radiotracer [11C]PBR28 in comparison to [18F]NOS.

Study groups in NCT04274998
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
AD/MCI or HCExperimentalMain Study: Subjects are diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease (AD)/Mild Cognitive Imparment (MCI) or are healthy volunteers/controls (HC).
Receives: Drug: [18F]NOS
AD/MCI or HC with Genetic PolymorphismExperimentalSub-Study: Subjects have a specific genetic polymorphism andare diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease (AD)/Mild Cognitive Imparment (MCI) or are healthy volunteers/controls (HC).
Receives: Drug: [11C]PBR28

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Understanding the uptake of [18F]NOS in the human brain in AD/MCI and Healthy Controls

    This main study outcome measure will be comparison of whole brain GM binding between controls and the MCI/AD group. the investigator will compare groups with a t-test. the investigator will evaluate the correlation of whole brain GM binding of 18F-NOS.

    Measured: 3 years

  2. Comparing the patterns of [18F]NOS brain uptake with patterns of cerebral amyloidosis and neurodegeneration using PET/CT

    This main study outcome measure will include regional and voxel-wise comparisons between binding of the tracers. Correlation between regional 18F-NOS binding and either amyloid PET SUVR (calculated with cerebellar gray matter reference) or GM volumetric measurements will be evaluated using Pearson's r and rank sum correlation initially using false discovery rate (FDR)-corrected<0.05 statistical thresholds

    Measured: 3 years

Secondary outcomes (2)

  1. Understanding the uptake of [11C]PBR28 in the human brain in AD/MCI and Healthy Controls with a specific genetic polymorphism

    This sub-study outcome measure will be comparison of whole brain GM binding between controls and the MCI/AD group. the investigator will compare groups with a t-test. the investigator will evaluate the correlation of whole brain GM binding of 11C-PBR28

    Measured: 3 years

  2. Comparing the patterns of [11C]PBR28 brain uptake with patterns of cerebral amyloidosis and neurodegeneration using PET/CT

    This sub-study outcome measure will include regional and voxel-wise comparisons between binding of the tracers. Correlation between regional 11C-PBR28 binding and either amyloid PET SUVR (calculated with cerebellar gray matter reference) or GM volumetric measurements will be evaluated using Pearson's r and rank sum correlation initially using false discovery rate (FDR)-corrected<0.05 statistical thresholds

    Measured: 3 years

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted19 Feb 2020
  2. Study start3 Mar 2020
  3. Primary completion1 Mar 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Mar 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Early Phase 1
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Non-randomised
Intervention model
Sequential
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
9 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04274998
Sponsor's protocol ID
834090
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
12 Feb 2020
Last updated
14 Apr 2026
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Early Phase 1 study testing [18F]NOS and [11C]PBR28 in people with Alzheimer Disease and Healthy Volunteer, run by University of Pennsylvania at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 12 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Early Phase 1 (sometimes called Phase 0) studies give a very small amount of a treatment to a few people, mainly to see how the body handles it.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Understanding the uptake of [18F]NOS in the human brain in AD/MCI and Healthy Controls (time frame: 3 years). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04274998.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Apr 2026.

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