PET Imaging of Noradrenergic Transmission in the Brain

Recruiting now · Phase 1

Conditions studied: Healthy

In brief

Background: Researchers have developed a new radioactive tracer (11C-ARMI). A tracer is a drug that attaches itself to other chemicals in the body and lights up so that the chemicals can be seen in imaging scans. The new tracer may be able to help them with many diseases, such as Alzheimer s disease and Parkinson s disease. Researchers want to test the new tracer in healthy people. Objective: To test a new tracer (11C-ARMI) during imaging scans of the brain and body in healthy people. Eligibility: Healthy people aged 18 years and older. They must have been screened under protocols 01-M-0254 or 17M0181. Design: All participants will have a positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scan. Before the scan, they will have blood and urine tests and a test of their heart function. The tracer will be given through a tube attached to a needle inserted into a vein in the arm. They will lie on a padded bed that fits inside a doughnut-shaped machine; the machine uses x-rays to create images of the inside of the body. Some participants will have a PET/CT scan of their whole body. They will need only 1 visit. Some participants will have a PET/CT scan of only their brain. They will have up to 2 visits. On the second visit, they will have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain. For the MRI, they will lie on a table that slides into a cylinder. The MRI uses magnetic fields to create images of the inside of the body. Participants will receive a follow-up call to check on their well-being after their PET/CT scans.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07686393

Run by

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

People needed

40

Starts

2026-08-13

Expected to finish

2030-02-20

Last updated by the study team

2026-08-10

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 105. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may not qualify if…

• An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
• Clinically significant abnormalities on EKG or laboratory testing. This includes CBC and acute care panel (Na, K, Cl, CO2, creatinine, glucose, urea nitrogen).
• Recent exposure to radiation (i.e., PET from other research) that, when combined with this study, would be above the allowable limits.
• Inability to lie flat on camera bed for at least two hours, including claustrophobia and weight greater than the maximum for the scanner (500 lbs).
• HIV infection.
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Must not have substance use disorder or alcohol use disorder.
• Unable to travel to the NIH.
• Unable to have an MRI scan (e.g., because of pacemakers or other implanted electrical devices, brain stimulators, dental implants, aneurysm clips (metal clips on the wall of a large artery), metallic prostheses (including metal pins and rods, heart valves, and cochlear implants), permanent eyeliner, implanted delivery pumps, shrapnel fragments, or metal fragments in the eye.
• Taking medications reported to have significant binding to alpha-1 adrenoceptors, medications that that alter norepinephrine release, or medications that lower blood pressure including antihypertensives, diuretics, or phosphodiesterase-5(PDE-5) inhibitors (e.g. sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil) within five elimination halflives prior to any [11C]ARMI PET scan.
• Known hypersensitivity to quinazoline-class medications (e.g., prazosin), defined as any prior allergic or clinically significant adverse reaction requiring discontinuation or medical evaluation.
• Blood donation within 8 weeks (2 months) before study participation, or unwillingness to avoid blood donation for 8 weeks (2 months) after the study.

Where it is running

• National Institutes of Health Clinical Center — Bethesda, Maryland, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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