PET imaging study seeks healthy female Caucasians

This research is being done to see if a radioactive compound called DPA-713 can tell us how the immune system or white blood cells interact with the brain cells in people who have migraine. An IV placement is used to inject a small amount of DPA-713 and then from the arterial line, blood is drawn at different intervals in order to obtain radioactivity samples of metabolites. We are primarily studying DPA-713, a ligand that marks microgila activation. Microgila is active in the brain when there is trauma or inflammation. The ligand will bind with the receptors in the brain, and we are measuring how much binding can be seen using DPA-713 in the images.

Study Requirements:
Two visits to Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center (typically scheduled for the first half of the day on Monday, Tuesday, or Friday)
Visit 1 entails bloodwork, EKG, 20-minute MRI of the brain
Visit 2 (must be completed within 10 days of visit 1) entails:
+ Arterial line in wrist placed by an anesthesiologist under local anesthesia
+ IV in opposite arm
+ 90-minute PET scan
+ Repeat bloodwork, and EKG

Participants must also complete a follow-up call four to seven days after visit 2.

Participation in this study pays $350 upon completion.

Participants must:
+ be 18 to 65 years old
+ be Caucasian females
+ not be claustrophobic or have a fear of needles
+ experience ZERO headaches or migraines
+ have no chronic pain diagnoses (rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, back pain, etc.)
+ not be pregnant or breast feeding
+ have no contraindications to an MRI or PET scanner
+ overall have a clean bill of health

Contact: Haley Nitchie at hnitchi1@jhmi.edu