# Neuroimaging Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2024 · $642,164

## Abstract

Neuroimaging Core Project Summary
Because of their tolerability, versatility, and spatial specificity, neuroimaging biomarkers are a prominent
strategy used in AD/ADRD research to detect AD pathology, provide insights into disease mechanism and
heterogeneity, track disease progression and, ultimately, monitor the efficacy of disease-modifying
interventions. Neuroimaging methods can also noninvasively assess other neuropathophysiological
mechanisms such as neurovascular insufficiency and neuroinflammation that are implicated as mechanisms
and modulators of AD and therefore likely contribute to the heterogeneity observed in its risk, incidence, and
progression. When linked to postmortem measures of proteinopathy burden, imaging measures can shed light
on heterogeneity of AD/ADRD, allowing for discovery of in vivo signatures of “pure AD” and concomitant non-
AD pathologies.
The Penn ADRC Neuroimaging Core will consolidate expertise in advanced neuroimaging methods and
applications to support the acquisition and analysis of state-of-the-art multimodal MRI of brain structure and
function, molecular brain imaging using PET, retinal angiography using optical coherence tomography (OCTA).
The Neuroimaging Core will oversee the acquisition and analysis of standard MRI and PET scans used in
defining preclinical AD based on amyloid, tau, and neurodegeneration (“A/T/(N)”) staging and for quantifying
ischemic lesions in the brain. Additional unique features of the Neuroimaging Core include the use of ultra-
high-field (7T) MRI both in vivo and for post-mortem imaging of intact hemispheres, the development methods
for accurate image-guided sampling of post-mortem brain tissue allowing spatial linkage between digital
pathology and in vivo morphometry, the development a data infrastructure linking imaging and non-imaging
databases, novel MRI and OCT methods for quantifying brain structure and vascular function in ADRC
research, and infrastructure to support the translation of novel PET tracers to clinical research in AD/ADRD.
The Neuroimaging Core will also share imaging data collected at the Penn ADRC with the NACC Coordinating
Center at the University of Washington and SCAN U24.
The Neuroimaging Core will be highly integrated with other ADRC cores, providing access to advanced
imaging and derived imaging metrics for the Clinical Core, collaboration on image analysis and databasing of
image-based information with the Data Management and Statistics Core, linking in vivo and postmortem
neuroimaging to neuropathology in conjunction with the Neuropathology Core, leveraging imaging as a means
of linking genetic factors with structural and functional brain phenotype with Genomics Core, working with the
Outreach Recruitment and Engagement Core to provide research updates about neuroimaging advances and
promote participation in imaging studies, and providing education and training in neuroimaging through
Research Education Component.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10870035
- **Project number:** 5P30AG072979-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** JOHN A DETRE
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $642,164
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-08-15 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10870035

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10870035, Neuroimaging Core (5P30AG072979-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10870035. Licensed CC0.

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