Reston, VA (April 3, 2026)—New research has been published ahead-of-print by The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM). JNM is published by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, an international scientific and medical organization dedicated to advancing nuclear medicine, molecular imaging, and theranostics—precision medicine that allows diagnosis and treatment to be tailored to individual patients in order to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Summaries of the newly published research articles are provided below.
New PET Tracer Tracks Synapses in Epilepsy
Researchers tested a novel PET tracer, 18F-UCB-H, to measure synaptic density in 29 patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy, comparing it with standard 18F-FDG imaging. Early and late imaging windows revealed patterns, with medication effects, regional correlations, and differences in lesion size and contrast highlighting how synaptic and metabolic signals relate.
Fast Whole-Body PET Scan Maps Cellular Energy Use
In a first look at whole-body behavior, researchers tracked how the PET tracer 18F-flurpiridaz moves through organs in 12 healthy volunteers. A 60-minute scan revealed distinct uptake patterns, while shorter scans—down to 10 minutes—closely matched full results, supporting faster imaging approaches for studying mitochondrial function across the body.
Tracking Alzheimer's Progression Through Tau Imaging
Researchers used 18F-MK-6240 PET scans to monitor tau buildup in 27 people across stages of Alzheimer's disease over two years. Patterns differed by disease stage, with faster accumulation in impaired groups. Changes in tau levels were also linked to worsening cognitive test scores, highlighting their value for tracking progression.
Targeted Radiotherapy Delivers Precise Doses in Prostate Cancer Trial
In the phase 2 LUNAR trial, 45 patients received 177Lu-PSMA-I&T before stereotactic radiotherapy. Imaging tracked radiation doses to organs and 123 tumors, showing consistent safety levels but wide variation in tumor dosing. Advanced analysis methods helped map how treatment distributes across the body and individual lesions.
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