A Pilot PET/MR Study of Neuroinflammation in Autism
Project Description:
This study seeks to evaluate neuroinflammation in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using simultaneous positron emission tomography and functional magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MR). Despite the wealth of preclinical and post-mortem evidence of neuroinflammation in ASD, no study to date has used second-generation radiotracers or simultaneous PET/MR to evaluate neuroinflammation in ASD. In this study, we propose to use the second-generation 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO) ligand [18F]PBR111 in conjunction with simultaneous PET/MR to investigate relations between mesocorticolimbic neuroinflammation measured by TSPO PET, brain activation and connectivity measured by fMRI, and symptom severity in young adults with ASD. This study will benefit from the regulatory approvals and control data collected in a companion TSPO PET study being conducted by PI Walsh (K23 MH113733). This proposal promotes a new collaboration between the PIs: Drs. Dichter and Walsh are clinical psychologists with fMRI expertise; Dr. Lalush is a biomedical engineer with expertise in molecular imaging. The pilot data collected here would support an R01 application to evaluate neuroinflammation in ASD using simultaneous PET/MR. It would also promote translational collaborations with UNC Neuroscience Center faculty investigating neuroinflammation in model organisms to potentially aid in the identification and evaluation of novel ASD treatments.
Core Function(s):
Performing Research or Evaluation
Area of Emphasis
Health-Related Activities
Target Audience:
General Public
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Specific Groups
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
International
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
