PET Imaging of Noradrenergic Transmission in the Brain (NCT07686393) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingPhase 1
PET Imaging of Noradrenergic Transmission in the Brain
United States40 participantsStarted 2026-08-18
Plain-language summary
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.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 105 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Aged 18 years or older.
. Must have undergone a screening assessment under protocol 01-M-0254, The Evaluation of Patients with Mood and Anxiety Disorders and Healthy Participants or 17M0181 Recruitment and Characterization of Healthy Research Volunteers for NIMH Intramural Studies.
. Be healthy based on medical history, physical examination, and laboratory testing.
. Able to understand and willingness to provide informed consent.
. Willingness to complete all study procedures including MRI tests.
. Have had their radial artery pulse checked for the presence of adequate ulnar collateral flow and the absence of any metal or foreign objects in both wrists.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
. 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.