Benzinger Lab
Projects
The Benzinger Lab has a number of ongoing projects that are recruiting at any given time. Below is an overview of what we are working on at the moment. To see our currently open clinical trials, visit ClinicalTrials.gov.
Knight Alzheimer Research Imaging (KARI) Program
Alzheimer Disease Research Center (ADRC)
The lab serves as the imaging core for the ADRC, the international studies of ADAD, the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) and the DIAN-Therapeutic Unit.
Diffusion Imaging
Quantification of Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s Disease Using Diffusion BasisSpectrum Imaging
Alzheimer disease (AD) is preceded by at least a decade of clinically silent brain changes (termed “preclinical AD”) that ultimately result in declines in memory and thinking. Inflammation in the brain may play an important role in the transition from normal cognition to dementia, but we lack easily accessible tools to identify neuroinflammation. The current application proposes to use a novel brain imaging test, diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI), to examine inflammation during the stages of preclinical and clinical AD.
The Adult Children’s Study (ACS)
Antecedent Neuroimaging Biomarkers
The ACS is a longitudinal study of aging, beginning at age 45. Imaging includes MRI, amyloid PIB-PET, and tau T807 PET. Early structural and functional changes in the brains of individuals at risk for developing dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) are not well understood. Typically a diagnosis of DAT is made using neuropsychological performance testing and clinical evaluation. Previous work by our group and others has identified a preclinical phase of DAT that is associated with a constellation of changes in biomarkers including decreased cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) Abeta42 (AP42) levels, increased fibrillar amyloid deposits in the brain as detected by PET.
Healthy Aging and Senile Dementia
Core E: Imaging
This is a longitudinal study of aging, beginning at age 65. Imaging includes MRI, amyloid AV45-PET, and tau T807 (18F-AV-1451) PET.
Tau PET Imaging
Tau PET imaging of Alzheimers Disease
The lab serves as the imaging core for the Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center, the international studies of ADAD, the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) and the DIAN-Therapeutic Unit.
International Collaborations for Autosomal Dominant AD
Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) Imaging Core Lab
An international study of families with autosomal dominant AD. Imaging includes MRI, amyloid PIB and AV45 PET, and tau T807 PET.
Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network Trials Unit (DIAN-TU) Imaging Core Lab
An international study of families with autosomal dominant AD. Imaging includes MRI, amyloid PIB and AV45 PET, and tau T807 (AV-1451) PET.
Brain Tumor Imaging Studies
Neurosurgical Translational Interface Pipeline for Clinical Resting State Functional MRI
The goal of this project is to develop a clinical workflow for volumetric MRI and resting state functional MRI for preoperative planning and for evaluation of dementia.
Additional Sources of Funding
- Willman Scholar, The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital (supports Austin McCullough and Brian Gordon’s work in AD Research)
- Support for image acquisition – CCIR/ICTS Human Imaging Unit. NIH/NCATS UL1TR000448
- CCIR additionally supported for Vision PET/CT: “This work was supported by NIH grant S10OD025214 for the Vision PET/CT Scanner housed in the Center for Clinical Imaging Research (CCIR), Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis.”
- Support for imaging informatics – XNAT “This study was supported in part by the Neuroimaging Informatics and Analysis Center (1P30NS098577) and R01 EB009352.”
Additional Conflicts of Interest
Tammie Benzinger, MD, PhD, has investigator initiated research funding from the NIH, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Foundation at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Avid Radiopharmaceuticals (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company). She participates as a site investigator in clinical trials sponsored by Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly and Company, Biogen, Eisai, Jaansen, and Roche. She serves as an unpaid consultant to Eisai and Siemens, and is on the Speaker’s Bureau for Biogen.
