Non-invasive imaging is a powerful clinical tool for the early diagnosis, and monitoring of various disease processes. Next generation molecular imaging promises unparalleled opportunities for visualizing pulmonary infection and inflammation since molecular and cellular alterations occur earlier in a pathologic process, than structural changes. This rapidly developing technology has become an essential tool in the field of oncology, with similar potential for pulmonary infectious and inflammatory conditions. During phase 1 funding, we developed and validated three novel molecular imaging tracers for evaluating pulmonary diseases with positron emission tomography (PET): 1) 124I-iodo-DPA-713, a synthetic ligand for the translocator protein (TSPO), as a specific imaging biomarker for macrophage-associated pulmonary inflammation, predictive of treatment efficacy and relapse in a Mycobacterium tuberculosis murine infection model; 2) 18F-fluorodeoxysorbitol (18F-FDS), an analog of sorbitol, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved sugar free sweetener, metabolized selectively by Gram-negative bacteria (Enterobacteriaceae), but not mammalian cells, for rapid, specific detection of Gram-negative nosocomial pneumonias and; 3) 11C- Rifampin, a FDA approved first-line TB drug, for rapid, noninvasive multi-compartment pharmacokinetic (PK) assessments. All imaging tracers proposed in this application have been fully validated in preclinical models and have several promising features: a) basis in mechanism with specific cellular targets; b) low molecular weight with suitable PK for lung imaging and; c) high target-to-non-target tissue ratios at convenient times after intravenous injection. Our centra hypothesis is that mechanism-based targeting of pathologic processes by specific PET imaging tracers would provide real-time, early and specific information about pulmonary infections and inflammatory diseases in patients. We propose a multi-disciplinary collaboration, specifically responsive to this RFA (phase 2) to perform initial safety and efficacy testing in human subjects using the FDA Investigational New Drug (IND) or RDRC mechanisms. Our ultimate goal is the bench-to-bedside translation of novel imaging tracers for rapid and noninvasive assessment of pulmonary disease processes and as drug development tools. Imaging tracers developed through this proposal could become valuable clinical tools for pulmonary medicine, and will also be broadly applicable to infectious diseases and other inflammatory conditions.

Public Health Relevance

Our overall goal is the bench-to-bedside translation of novel imaging tracers for rapid and noninvasive assessment of pulmonary disease processes and as drug development tools. Imaging tracers developed through this proposal could become valuable clinical tools for pulmonary medicine, and will also be broadly applicable to infectious diseases and other inflammatory conditions.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL131829-03
Application #
9509503
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1)
Program Officer
Lin, Sara
Project Start
2016-09-01
Project End
2019-05-31
Budget Start
2018-06-01
Budget End
2019-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21205
Tucker, Elizabeth W; Guglieri-Lopez, Beatriz; Ordonez, Alvaro A et al. (2018) Noninvasive 11C-rifampin positron emission tomography reveals drug biodistribution in tuberculous meningitis. Sci Transl Med 10:
Holt, Daniel P; Kalinda, Alvin S; Bambarger, Lauren E et al. (2018) Radiosynthesis and validation of [Carboxy-11 C]4-Aminobenzoic acid ([11 C]PABA), a PET radiotracer for imaging bacterial infections. J Labelled Comp Radiopharm :
Ordonez, Alvaro A; Jain, Sanjay K (2018) Pathogen-Specific Bacterial Imaging in Nuclear Medicine. Semin Nucl Med 48:182-194
Jain, Sanjay K; Tobin, David M; Tucker, Elizabeth W et al. (2018) Tuberculous meningitis: a roadmap for advancing basic and translational research. Nat Immunol 19:521-525
Xu, Ziyue; Gao, Mingchen; Papadakis, Georgios Z et al. (2018) Joint solution for PET image segmentation, denoising, and partial volume correction. Med Image Anal 46:229-243
Foss, Catherine A; Plyku, Donika; Ordonez, Alvaro A et al. (2018) Biodistribution and Radiation Dosimetry of 124I-DPA-713, a PET Radiotracer for Macrophage-Associated Inflammation. J Nucl Med 59:1751-1756
Foss, Catherine A; Sanchez-Bautista, Julian; Jain, Sanjay K (2018) Imaging Macrophage-associated Inflammation. Semin Nucl Med 48:242-245
Ordonez, Alvaro A; Weinstein, Edward A; Bambarger, Lauren E et al. (2017) A Systematic Approach for Developing Bacteria-Specific Imaging Tracers. J Nucl Med 58:144-150
Tucker, Elizabeth W; Jain, Sanjay K; Mahesh, Mahadevappa (2017) Balancing the Risks of Radiation and Anesthesia in Pediatric Patients. J Am Coll Radiol 14:1459-1461
Javadi, Mehrbod S; Ordonez, Alvaro A; Jain, Sanjay K (2017) Re: Increased 18F-2-Fluorodeoxysorbitol (18F-FDS) Activity in a Pituitary Spindle Cell Carcinoma. Clin Nucl Med 42:649

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