# TSPO-PET and MRI imaging as novel imaging tools for autoimmune epilepsy

> **NIH NIH R01** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2022 · $561,887

## Abstract

Project Summary
Autoimmune epilepsy has been treated with immunomodulation with promising results in clinical observational
studies, but the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune epilepsy remains problematic. The value of neural
autoantibodies as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers of an autoimmune etiology of seizures has been limited
because of imperfect sensitivity and lack of correlation with clinical course. In this proposal, we propose to bridge
the diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker gap in this field by using novel imaging methods that could be broadly
applicable tools and help elucidate neuroinflammatory mechanisms of disease in this group of patients who may
be candidates for etiology-targeted treatment. In aim 1, we will perform TSPO-PET imaging, with a novel
radioligand ([11C]ER176), to quantify and visualize microglial activation in patients with definite autoantibody
positive autoimmune epilepsy, and clinically suspected but antibody negative autoimmune epilepsy, and
compare them to disease controls (focal epilepsy of known structural cause) and healthy controls. In aim 2, we
will perform traditional and novel DCE MRI to quantify and visualize blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption in the
same definite and clinically suspected autoimmune epilepsy groups, compared to disease and healthy controls.
In a small validation cohort, we will also perform CSF to serum albumin ratios to validate our imaging
measurements of BBB disruption. In aim 3, we will repeat TSPO-PET and DCE-MRI after standard of care
immunomodulation is administered to subjects with definite autoimmune epilepsy and correlate changes in 1)
TSPO uptake and 2) BBB disruption as measured by DCE-MRI, with subacute seizure outcomes. These aims
will be achieved through a collaboration between the Division of Epilepsy and the Center for Advanced Imaging
Innovation and Research at NYU, including epileptologists, clinical neuroradiologists, and imaging scientists. By
using novel imaging methods that measure different neuroinflammatory mechanisms, we will move beyond the
sole reliance on neural autoantibodies for the diagnosis of autoimmune epilepsy and develop potential surrogate
markers of disease that may be able to not only detect, but track disease activity in the context of treatment.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10412595
- **Project number:** 1R01NS126156-01
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Claude Steriade
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $561,887
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-05-15 → 2027-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10412595

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10412595, TSPO-PET and MRI imaging as novel imaging tools for autoimmune epilepsy (1R01NS126156-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10412595. Licensed CC0.

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