TRANSLATIONAL IMAGING AND NANOMEDICINE IN INFLAMMATORY ATHEROSCLEROSIS
This Project will focus on the development of novel atherosclerosis imaging protocols for both preclinical and clinical measurement of plaque macrophage dynamics to quantitatively visualize three processes that are likely key to stress-induced atherosclerosis plaque progression and regression, namely the I) recruitment of monocytes to plaque, II) macrophage proliferation in lesions, and III) macrophage exit from lesions. This research will be conducted at ISMMS and MGH.
Specific Aims:
- Aim 1: To develop and validate PET/MRI protocols quantifying plaque macrophage dynamics in mice
- Aim 2: To generate PET/MRI probes from an immune cell-directed nanoparticle library screen
- Aim 3: To translate PET/MRI protocols tracking inflammatory cell activation and proliferation during atherosclerosis in rabbits and human patients
STRIVE (Stress and Trauma: Impact on Cardiovascular Disease) 