# Optimization of PET probe for imaging lung fibrogenesis

> **NIH NIH R33** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2021 · $588,000

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 The goal of this project is to optimize a positron emission tomography (PET) probe to quantify fibrogenesis
(active disease) in the lung to ultimately provide an early diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), to
predict disease progression, and to provide an early indication of whether anti-fibrotic therapy is likely to be
effective. IPF is a progressive and ultimately fatal disease with a median survival of less than 4 years from the
time of diagnosis. The treatment options remain limited due to highly variable clinical course and poorly
understood pathogenic mechanisms. Current strategies to diagnose and monitor IPF include lung biopsy,
pulmonary function tests that measure global lung function, and anatomic imaging tools such as high-resolution
computed tomography (HRCT). Yet these methods are limited in their ability to detect disease early, determine
disease activity at any one measure, or monitor the therapeutic response. Our group recently demonstrated that
oxidized collagen is a marker of active disease in pulmonary fibrosis. In animal models, using molecular probes
that target the allysine residue on oxidized collagen, we showed that a molecular probe targeted to allysine could
detect fibrogenesis, monitor treatment response and could distinguish active fibrogenesis from stable scar in
models of lung fibrosis. We further showed that by modifying the affinity and reactivity (on-rate), that probe uptake
in areas of active disease could be increased in a rational manner.
 In this Catalyze: Preliminary Product/Lead Series Identification proposal, we aim to optimize our lead PET
probe with respect to its uptake in areas of disease and its elimination from non-diseased lung and surrounding
tissues, thus providing a very high target to background ratio and enabling accurate quantification of lung
fibrogenesis. With the optimized probe in hand, we will then demonstrate its efficacy in different animal models
of pulmonary fibrosis, demonstrate its specificity to quantify active disease, and show that it can monitor
treatment response. At the end of this two year project we will have an optimized and validated PET probe for
imaging lung fibrogenesis and be poised to translate this probe to human clinical trials.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10234201
- **Project number:** 5R33HL154125-02
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Peter D Caravan
- **Activity code:** R33 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $588,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-08-15 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10234201

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10234201, Optimization of PET probe for imaging lung fibrogenesis (5R33HL154125-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10234201. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*