At a glance
- What the study gets you
- Health checks and monitoring — no treatment given
- Type of study
- Observational (no treatment given)
- Time in hospital
- In-person visits at study sites — visit count not specified by the sponsor
- Drug or intervention
- PET imaging (radiation), Multi-modal MRI imaging (other)
- How long the study runs
- Study runs about 71 months (dates as stated)
- About the drug or intervention
- PET imaging — radiation: PET imaging Radiation: Radioligand \[¹¹C\]MePPEP Intravenous injection of radioligand in the arm with PET imaging of the brain. · Multi-modal MRI imaging — other: Multi-modal MRI imaging
- Patient visit burden
- Not specified by the sponsor
- Type of study
- Observing health over time
- Ages
- 21 Years to 75 Years
- Who
- All
- Number of participants
- 113
- Started
- 2021-07-20
- Last checked
- 2025-03
Plain English Summary
What is this study?
- • Testing a new treatment for huntington disease
- • Clinical study - 113 participants
- • iMarkHD is an adaptive, longitudinal positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging study in Huntington's disease (HD) that aims to assess abnormal molecular, functional, and structural changes in participants' brains, ranging from several years before symptom onset to the advanced symptom stage
Who can take part?
- • Ages 21 Years to 75 Years
- • Diagnosed with huntington disease
Where?
- • London - King's College London
This is a simplified summary. Always discuss with your doctor before making any decisions.
About This Trial
iMarkHD is an adaptive, longitudinal positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging study in Huntington's disease (HD) that aims to assess abnormal molecular, functional, and structural changes in participants' brains, ranging from several years before symptom onset to the advanced symptom stage. The study will be conducted over a three (3) year period (Baseline, Year-1, and Year-2).
More detail
It is likely that, over time, multiple pathophysiological changes influence Huntington's disease (HD) progression. Rather than focusing on one element, the combined PET and multi-modal MRI assessments in this study will allow comprehensive examination of the molecular, functional, and structural framework of HD progression in the brain. The investigators will compare PET and MRI measurements at different disease stages with age- and sex-matched healthy control (HC) participants and monitor, over follow-up visits, to evaluate how specific or combinatorial changes may influence the development of symptoms and disease progression. Furthermore, disease progression markers may be identified that can characterize and predict events preceding symptom development, which could be used as outcome measures in future clinical trials. Study results could also lead to the development of new targeted therapies. The study has two main objectives. First, to use a series of PET scans to investigate four target receptors in specific areas of the brain that are affected by HD and are thought to be responsible for the motor, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms. Second, to investigate structural and functional changes, including alterations in brain connections, using a multi-modal MRI protocol. The investigators will combine MRI and PET findings with clinical measures to precisely characterize univariate and multivariate markers of disease progression. There will be two (2) cohorts in this study. Cohort 1 will consist of five (5) HC participants (who do not have the HD gene mutation) recruited and enrolled to enable optimization of MRI imaging techniques. Each participant in Cohort 1 will complete a minimum of 3 visits. Cohort 2 will consist of 72 people with HD (PwHD) and 36 HC participants; each participant will complete a minimum of 10 visits over three (3) years. The 72 PwHDs will be recruited into three (3) groups depending on disease stage: 24 PwHDs who do not have symptoms and are predicted to develop clinically relevant symptoms in a few years; 24 PwHDs with symptoms in early disease stages; and 24 PwHDs with symptoms in advanced disease stages. The investigators will conduct a preliminary analysis after all baseline visits are completed and a decision will be made whether to add an additional group of 24 PwHDs with no symptoms and who are several years away from developing symptoms, and an additional 12 HCs. After 50% of participants have completed Year 2 follow-up visits, preliminary analysis will be carried out to determine whether to extend the study to include a Year 3 follow-up visit which would be identical to the Year 1 and 2 follow-up visits.
How this trial compares with your answers
Answer 2 more questions to improve match
What we know so far
Still need:
- • Tell us your age for better matching
- • Tell us your sex for better matching
Preliminary match based on your answers. Full eligibility requires on-site assessment including medical history, physical exam, and lab tests. This does not guarantee enrolment.
Eligibility at a Glance
Key info
- Age: 21 Years - 75 Years
- Who can join: All genders
Biomarkers mentioned
What the study is looking for
- ✓PwHDs and HC participants:
- ✓Female and male adults, aged 21-75 years old, inclusive.
- ✓Adequate visual (Snellen chart) and auditory (Rinne and Weber tests) acuity to complete the psychological testing as...
- ✓Capable of giving agreement to take part.
- ✓Willing to comply with highly effective contraceptive measures following agreement to take part (for Cohort 2 only).
Who cannot take part
- ✗PwHD and HC participants:
- ✗Presence or history of primary psychiatric disorders unrelated to HD.
- ✗Pregnancy confirmed by a positive urine pregnancy test.
- ✗Participants who are currently breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed during the study.
- ✗History of alcoholism or substance abuse within 3 years prior to study entry.
See the full criteria
Where Is This Study? (1 UK site)
King's College London
London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
How to Get in Touch
Steve Williams, PhD
Sponsor contactCONTACT
Daniel J van Wamelen, PhD
Sponsor contactCONTACT
