91´óÉñ

The 91´óÉñ Children’s Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory in Delaware Valley develops medical imaging agents to improve neurologic disease diagnosis and treatment for children.Ìý

We focus on creating positron emission tomography (PET) radioactive probes, or radiotracers, that noninvasively identify molecular processes in real time. These imaging agents reveal functional changes in organs and tissues by tracking biomarkers, blood flow, oxygen use, and energy metabolism.Ìý

We specialize in designing, synthesizing, and characterizing PET radiotracers, evaluating them in animal models and translating promising agents into clinical investigations for neurological disorders and other diseases. We integrate PET with structural imaging methods like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT). This combined approach aids in disease diagnosis, disease staging, and classification, and treatment planning and assessment.Ìý

Through our research and translation to clinical practice, we restore and improve children’s health, providing innovative programs not available everywhere. Ìý

Developing & Evaluating Radiotracers for PET Imaging ACE2

Researchers are developing and validating PET imaging probes that can be used to in vivo detect the whole-body expression and distribution of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). ACE2 is the entry receptor of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 and is a key player in cardiovascular and renal diseases, diabetes, pregnancy, and lung diseases.

Imaging Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Using Flourine-18 Tryptophan Tracer

Our major goals of this study are to use a fluorine-18 labeled tryptophan radiotracer to detect and differentiate neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) in an animal model and validate the biomarkers that contribute to the malignant outcomes.

Developing PET Imaging Probes for the Glymphatic-Lymphatic System

The adult brain represents about 2% of the body weight but accounts for approximately 20% of energy consumption by the body. Waste clearance is an essential process for brain homeostasis. However, the exact mechanism for removing waste products from the brain is unclear.Ìý

The recent discoveries of the glymphatic system and meningeal lymphatic vessels (mLVs), or the glymphatic-lymphatic system, have received significant attention given that this system plays an important role in removing metabolic waste, controlling inflammation, and ensuring immune surveillance in central nervous system (CNS) tissues.Ìý

We aim to develop imaging probes to study the brain glymphatic-lymphatic system implicated in brain disorders, including multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and dementia.

Investigating PET/MRI With 1-(2-[¹⁸F]fluoroethyl)-L-Tryptophan

We will use 1-(2-[¹⁸F]fluoroethyl)-L-tryptophan PET/MRI to investigate metabolic and functional alterations in epilepsy, neuro-oncology, neuropsychiatric illnesses, and other neurological diseases. This tryptophan radiotracer enables quantitative molecular profiling and structural imaging of disorders affecting both pediatric and adult brains.Ìý

The imaging agent has been approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical investigation under the exploratory investigational new drug (eIND) application. Our long-term goal is to translate tryptophan PET biomarkers into clinical practice to guide diagnosis, staging, and therapy decisions.

Our labs contribute to research that informs pediatric care, working in alignment with research centers and focused areas of scientific study at 91´óÉñ.