Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a medical technique that creates an image of biochemical processes occurring in a human, by injecting radioactive compounds (radiotracers) that bind to specific target and their distribution in the body is then detected by a PET camera. With the high burden of neurodegenerative disease in Canada, and worldwide, new PET radiotracers must be developed to image illness-related processes in the brain. This work will develop radiotracers designed to advance scientific understanding of a brain enzyme known as glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), along with related molecules involved in neuroinflammation, all characteristics highly involved in chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a neurodegenerative disease, associated with brain injuries where affected individuals may experience diverse symptoms including cognitive impairment, mood disorders, self-medication, substance use disorders, aggression and memory loss. At present, diagnosis of CTE occurs after death, upon autopsy. Despite the extensive efforts in biomarker development, PET imaging is not widely utilized for CTE diagnosis, partially due the lack of radiotracers for detecting early stages of cognitive impairment and pathology. Through this research, we aim to better understand the interactions that occur between our imaging tools and other biological targets in the brain, as well as differences in target expression throughout CTE progression. Through the development of new imaging biomarkers for GSK-3, misfolded proteins and neuroinflammation molecules, the opportunity arises for earlier detection of disease pathology and potential for advancing therapeutic intervention. By completion of the proposed project, the goal is to have translated the first PET radiotracer to image GSK-3 in the living human brain and transform how physicians diagnose millions of patients suffering from neurological disorders, CTE and related dementias.