# Non-invasive imaging of T cells

> **NIH NIH R03** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2020 · $82,960

## Abstract

Project Summary
T-cells are a subset of lymphocytes that play a large role in the immune response. T cell based therapies have
been used in various human diseases, such brain tumors, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and
Multiple sclerosis. The T-cell receptor (TCR) is a complex of integral membrane proteins that participate in the
activation of T-cells in response to an antigen. TCR activation promotes a number of signaling cascades that
ultimately determine cell fate through regulating cytokine production, cell survival, proliferation, and
differentiation Unfortunately, there are no suitable non-invasive imaging tools for investigating these processes
in animals or in man. The development of techniques for visualizing T cell receptors in vivo represents a key
step in understanding both the normal function and pathophysiology of T cells in brain. Moreover, these
techniques will accelerate the discovery of small molecule therapeutics that interacts with the T cell receptors.
The project is designed to develop novel PET imaging probes for T cell receptors. We will label the first-in-
class T cell receptor inhibitor, AX-024, with carbon-11 or fluorine-18 and evaluate the potential of these
molecules to serve as radiotracers for T cell receptors in humans by imaging their distribution and
pharmacokinetics in rodents and non-human primates.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10015276
- **Project number:** 5R03EB026165-02
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Changning Wang
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $82,960
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-10 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10015276

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10015276, Non-invasive imaging of T cells (5R03EB026165-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10015276. Licensed CC0.

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