# Predicting glymphatic function via PET/MR imaging biomarkers and Nose to Brain contrast delivery

> **NIH NIH R21** · MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $417,853

## Abstract

PROJECT TITLE: Predicting glymphatic function via PET/MR imaging biomarkers and Nose to Brain
contrast delivery
PROJECT ABSTRACT: The recently identified glymphatic system, which modulates exchange of the brain’s
interstitial fluid and cerebrospinal fluid, has been shown to play a major role in the clearance of waste products
from the brain. Individuals with dementia or old age show diminished glymphatic clearance, which is
hypothesized to contribute to protein aggregation, neurotoxicity, and cognitive decline. The impact of changes
in glymphatic function have not been comprehensively investigated, as clinical methods to evaluate the
glymphatic system are lacking. A sensitive and noninvasive imaging tool for evaluation of glymphatic function is
clearly needed. This proposal addresses this need by testing sensitive, non-invasive methods for quantifying
brain waste clearance that are readily translatable to the clinic. Nose to brain (N2B) delivery is a useful tool for
direct delivery to the brain and is hypothesized to utilize glymphatic vessels for distribution throughout the brain
tissue. We will test whether N2B PET tracer clearance from the brain visualized by noninvasive PET/MRI
provides meaningful information about glymphatic function, and correlate with known anatomical changes by
fluorescence microscopy. Our PET approach will be compared to the MRI current gold standard for glymphatic
imaging and tested in physical and pathological models of glymphatic alterations. If successful, this study could
provide a tool for early detection of diminished glymphatic function before the onset of neurotoxic pathology.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10370078
- **Project number:** 1R21AG075795-01
- **Recipient organization:** MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Kurt R Zinn
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $417,853
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-02-01 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10370078

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10370078, Predicting glymphatic function via PET/MR imaging biomarkers and Nose to Brain contrast delivery (1R21AG075795-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10370078. Licensed CC0.

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