Novel Imaging Biomarker for Detection of Regional Cardiovascular Inflammation using PET

This project aims to develop 18F-LW223, the first fluorinated radiotracer targeting the 18kDa translocator protein (TSPO) with binding to human samples independent of the rs6971 genetic polymorphism. This novel radiotracer has major potential for clinical imaging for all patients.

Research Methods and Objectives

Inflammation plays a key role in the development and progression of various cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction and myocarditis. Currently most clinical cardiovascular inflammatory biomarkers rely on the quantification of proteins and enzymes in blood. An imaging biomarker capable of identifying and quantifying arterial and myocardial cellular inflammation in vivo would provide an important imaging tool with major diagnostic and prognostic applications. We propose to address this need by characterising and validating ¹⁸F-LW223, a TSPO specific positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer.

Principal Investigator, Co-Investigators, Other researchers

Principal Investigator

Dr Adriana Tavares

Co-Investigators

• Dr Andrew Sutherland (University of Glasgow)
• Dr Christophe Lucatelli
• Prof David Newby
• Dr Gillian Gray
• Dr Marc Dweck
• Dr Sally Pimlott (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde)

Other researchers

• Dr Mark MacAskill