# Imaging iNOS and ROS/RNS

> **NIH NIH P41** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $246,311

## Abstract

TR&D 3 Project Summary
The primary goal of TR&D 3 is to develop PET radiopharmaceuticals to enable molecular imaging of interplay
between inflammation and oxidative stress. Of note,
oxidative stress represents an imbalance between
production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their elimination or mitigation by antioxidants. Excess ROS is
 in the pathogenesis of a wide range of diseases. Importantly, a key mediator of oxidative stress is nitric
oxide (NO) which is generated by the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) family of enzymes. Among this NOS family,
the inducible form of NO has been implicated in a variety of diseases, wherein either acute or chronic
inflammation is central to disease pathogenesis. Moreover, excess NO can react with free radicals to generate
reactive nitrogen species (RNS) such as peroxynitrites, thus impairing cell function. In view of the high
significance of abovementioned molecular targets in the pathogenesis of disease, the specific aims of TR&D 3
are to design, synthesize, and validate: 1) radiotracers targeting inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS); and 2)
gallium-68 incorporated PET tracers for imaging ROS/RNS-mediated oxidative stress. Radiotracers developed
in TR&D 3 will be initially validated in animal models at our institution. Following validations of target-sensitivity
and –specificity of new PET tracers at a molecular level in vivo using proposed methodologies, TR&D 3 will
collaborate with CPs to validate and further optimize the technology for wide utility in disease-specific
applications. Overall, these PET tracers will provide novel imaging resource to interrogate role of these vital
biomarkers in inflammation.
involved

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10480880
- **Project number:** 5P41EB025815-05
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Vijay Sharma
- **Activity code:** P41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $246,311
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10480880

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10480880, Imaging iNOS and ROS/RNS (5P41EB025815-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10480880. Licensed CC0.

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