---
title: Image abnormal brain protein deposits
nct_id: NCT06303921
phase: EARLY_PHASE1
status: RECRUITING
sponsor: University of Pennsylvania
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT06303921"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06303921"
last_fetched: "2026-05-10T14:07:59.775Z"
source: "Parkinson's Pathways (curated)"
---
# Image abnormal brain protein deposits

**Goal (in five words):** Image abnormal brain protein deposits

**Official Title:** Center Without Walls for Imaging Proteinopathies With PET (CW2IP2): Phase I Pilot Study of Biodistribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Brain Uptake of 11C-M503

**Trial ID:** [NCT06303921](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06303921)

## Key Facts

- **Phase:** EARLY_PHASE1
- **Status:** RECRUITING
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Sponsor:** University of Pennsylvania
- **Target Enrollment:** 70 participants
- **Start Date:** 2024-02-16
- **Completion Date:** 2029-02
- **Conditions:** Tauopathies
- **Interventions:** 11C-M503 PET, Brain MRI, Amyloid PET, Neurological assessments
- **Intervention Types:** DRUG, DIAGNOSTIC_TEST, BEHAVIORAL

## Summary For Families

Goal: The team is testing whether a new PET tracer, 11C-M503, can safely reach the brain and highlight abnormal protein deposits like tau that are linked to PSP, MSA, and other tauopathies. Approach: Participants will have PET scans with 11C-M503 plus MRI, amyloid PET and neurological exams while researchers measure how the tracer is distributed, metabolized, excreted, and taken up in the brain; 11C-M503 is a radioactive imaging ligand meant to reveal protein aggregates and is diagnostic only, so it should not affect treatments like levodopa. Eligibility: Adults aged 40 to 85 are being enrolled, including people with clinical diagnoses of Parkinson disease, MSA, PSP, and healthy controls, who can provide consent or have a study partner; pregnant or breastfeeding women are excluded.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 40 Years
- **Maximum age:** 85 Years
- **Sex:** ALL

### Full Criteria

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients in all cohorts will be male or female adults from 40 to 85 years of age.
* Participants must be informed of the investigational nature of this study and be willing to provide written informed consent and participate in this study in accordance with institutional and federal guidelines prior to study-specific procedures or Participants who are deemed unable to provide informed consent must have a designated study partner present for consent and to accompany them to study visits
* Investigators will ask PD/MSA/PSP participants to agree to brain donation but this choice is not mandatory for participation in this study.
* Diagnosis-specific inclusion criteria: Clinical diagnoses will be determined by consensus committee for diagnostic agreement (PD, MSA, PSP or Healthy Control)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Females who are pregnant or breast feeding will be excluded, a urine pregnancy test will be performed in women of child-bearing potential prior to injection of 11C -M503, 11C-PiB or 18F-Florbetaben
* Forms of parkinsonism other than PD, PSP and MSA as defined above
* Major psychiatric disorder (e.g. schizophrenia or bipolar disorder) - major depressive disorder is allowed
* History of significant or ongoing alcohol abuse or substance abuse or dependence based on medical record review or self-reported
* Contraindications or inability to tolerate imaging, arterial line or IV placement or blood draw procedures in the opinion of an investigator or treating physician
* Contraindication to MRI, such as non-compatible implanted medical device
* Any current medical condition, illness, or disorder as assessed by medical record review and/or self-reported that is considered by a physician or investigator to be a condition that could compromise participant safety or successful participation in the study
```

## Locations (3)

- Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut, United States _(41.3081, -72.9282)_
  - Richard Carson — (CONTACT) — 203-932-5711 — richard.carson@yale.edu
  - Shannan Henry — (CONTACT) — 203-737-5278 — shannan.henry@yale.edu
  - Richard Carson — (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)
- Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, Missouri, United States _(38.6273, -90.1979)_
  - Joel S Perlmutter, MD — (CONTACT) — 314-362-6026 — perlmutterjoel@wustl.edu
  - Joel S Perlmutter, MD — (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States _(39.9524, -75.1636)_
  - Erin Schubert — (CONTACT) — 215-662-3041 — erinshu@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
  - Ilya Nasrallah, MD, PhD — (CONTACT) — ilya.nasrallah@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
  - IIya Nasrallah, MD, PhD — (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)

## Central Contacts

- Erin Schubert — (CONTACT) — 215-662-3041 — erinshu@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT06303921*  
*HTML version: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT06303921*  
*Source data: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06303921*