InVivo Imaging of Myelination for Drug Discovery and Development in Multiple Sclerosis.

摘要

During the first funding cycle, we have worked closely with Dr. Miller to develop a series of animal models to assess the efficacy of the imaging compounds that he has developed to detect demyelination and remyelination in the intact brain and spinal cord. We have also begun to test the ability of the imaging probes to assay remyelination in response to potential therapeutic treatments. The key research accomplishments are highlighted below: 1. Design, synthesis and evaluation of coumarin-based molecular probes for imaging of myelination. 2. Longitudinal imaging of myelination using a near infra-red probe. 3. Longitudinal 11C-CIC-PET Imaging in the spinal cord of a rat model of focal demyelination.