# Can [18F]3F4AP detect brain demyelination? Evaluation of novel PET tracer in nonhuman primates and humans

> **NIH NIH R01** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2022 · $362,813

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Demyelination represents the hallmark of multiple sclerosis (MS) and is also present in other diseases
including brain ischemia, traumatic brain injury and even Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, demyelinating
diseases are primarily imaged using MRI. Even though MRI is highly sensitive to demyelination, it is not
quantitative and it cannot distinguish demyelination from other potentially coexisiting pathological processes
such as inflammation or axonal loss. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) can provide quantitative and
biochemically specific information to complement MRI.
 We recently developed a PET radiotracer for demyelination based on the FDA-approved drug for MS 4-
aminopyridine (4AP) called [18F]3F4AP. We showed that this tracer be used to detect demyelination in rodent
models of MS and that it has good properties for imaging the brain in monkeys. In this project, we seek to
investigate the potential of this tracer for imaging demyelination in a model of traumatic brain injury and to
validate it in nonhuman primates and humans. The information gathered here will be crucial for the design and
interpretation of future human studies. Once validated, this tracer and could contribute to better monitoring of
demyelinating diseases and to the development of therapies to reverse demyelination.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10322678
- **Project number:** 5R01NS114066-03
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Pedro Brugarolas
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $362,813
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-12-15 → 2024-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10322678

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10322678, Can [18F]3F4AP detect brain demyelination? Evaluation of novel PET tracer in nonhuman primates and humans (5R01NS114066-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-14 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10322678. Licensed CC0.

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