# In vivo measurement of Amyloid in preclinical Alzheimer's Disease by saturation transfer MRI

> **NIH NIH R21** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2024 · $253,336

## Abstract

Project Summary
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative condition characterized by pathological processes that
occur many years before clinical symptoms manifest. One of the hallmark features of AD is the accumulation of
beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques in the brain. Detecting and quantifying Aβ burden is crucial for identifying individuals
at high risk of AD progression and evaluating the effectiveness of potential treatments. Currently, the primary
method for assessing Aβ burden is using radioactive positron emission tomography (PET) tracers. However, PET
imaging has several limitations, including high costs, limited spatial resolution, and constraints on frequent
measurements, which are essential for tracking changes over time and evaluating treatment outcomes. In
response to these limitations, this project sets out to develop and optimize an innovative magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) technique that is sensitive to pathological aggregates such as Aβ, with the goal of supplementing
the traditional amyloid PET. Under aim 1, the novel 3D MRI sequence will be implemented and optimized for
Aβ detection in the brain; Under aim 2, the signal generated from the saturation transfer MRI will be compared
to the uptake values of the amyloid PET for the whole brain and in key brain regions. Ultimately, our goal is to
deliver a clinically useful MRI method for Aβ detection. This method has the potential to reduce the need for
expensive PET scans, offering better motion tolerance, improved image quality, and increased sensitivity to
changes in Aβ aggregation size. Additionally, its non-invasive nature allows for repeat scans, enabling us to study
variability, reliability, and long-term changes in AD mechanisms.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10939911
- **Project number:** 3R21AG083685-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** Xiang Xu
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $253,336
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2023-09-01 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10939911

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10939911, In vivo measurement of Amyloid in preclinical Alzheimer's Disease by saturation transfer MRI (3R21AG083685-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10939911. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*