SV2a evaluation in neurodegenerative research
Research type
Research Study
Full title
SV2a evaluation in neurodegenerative research
IRAS ID
233833
Contact name
James Rowe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Synapses are the structures which mediate the transmission of information between neurons and therefore are essential to the function of the networks which underlie normal brain function. The number of synapses falls early in the course of many neurodegenerative diseases leading to symptoms experienced by the patient. Our understanding of synapses and their role in disease thus far comes from post-mortem studies in patients, studies in animal models and cell cultures. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a type of scan which allows us to visualise cellular processes during life by detecting radioactivity from a dye injected into participants and designed to bind to a specific target. Recently, dyes have been developed which bind to a protein (SV2a) present in all synapses. This allows us to visualise and quantify synapses during life for the first time. We want to examine how they are affected by neurodegenerative diseases and how this relates to other measures, specifically when synaptic number starts to drop, how this relates to other brain changes and to symptoms. This information will help our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases like dementia, particularly the processes happening within the brains of people with these illnesses during life. This in turn is intended to inform clinical trials of new therapies, both in providing rationale and potential outcome measures.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/EE/0059
Date of REC Opinion
21 Mar 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion