FibromyalgiaPhase 1NCT03759522
Assessment of Neuroinflammation in Central Inflammatory Disorders Using [F-18]DPA-714.
A Phase 1 study testing DPA-714 PET/MRI in people with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, run by University of Alabama at Birmingham at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The primary objective of this study is to measure the concentration and the regional brain distribution of activated brain microglia/macrophages using the PET radiopharmaceutical [F-18]DPA-714 in individuals with chronic pain and fatigue suspected to be associated with neuroinflammation. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis
- What is being tested?
- DPA-714 PET/MRI
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 120 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 3 Feb 2019to Apr 2028
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 18 to 65 years of age
- Healthy volunteer OR Clinical diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) OR Meets 2016 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) case definition criteria for fibromyalgia OR Meets 1994 Fukuda case definition criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Who cannot join
- Contraindication to MRI
- Pregnancy
- Lactation
- Individuals who are unable to participate in the imaging portion due to severity of their medical condition
- Chronic infectious disease (e.g. HIV, HCV)
- Viral or bacterial illness requiring medical attention and/or antibiotics within 1 month of study participation
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- Diagnosis of cancer, including leukemia
- Blood or blood clotting disorder
- Except for individuals with MS, a diagnosis of autoimmune disease is exclusionary
- Positive urine β-hCG test day of procedure or a serum -hCG test within 48 hours prior to the administration of [18F]DPA-714
- Currently enrolled in a clinical trial utilizing experimental therapies
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center
Birmingham, Alabama, 35294
Jonathan McConathy, MD, 205-996-7115, jmcconathy@uabmc.edu
Jonathan McConathy, MD, PhD
About this study
The primary objective of this study is to measure the concentration and the regional brain distribution of activated brain microglia/macrophages using the PET radiopharmaceutical [F-18]DPA-714 in individuals with chronic pain and fatigue suspected to be associated with neuroinflammation. The PET tracer [F-18]DPA-714 binds to the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO, also known as the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor) in the mitochondria of activated microglia/macrophages and provides a non-invasive measure of neuroinflammation. The primary objective of this study is to determine if pain and fatigue patients have higher levels of neuroinflammation than HC individuals as measured with [F-18]DPA-714-PET/MRI.
- Conditions
- Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Healthy
- Being tested
- DPA-714 PET/MRI
- Medical subject headings
- Fibromyalgia, Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic, Multiple Sclerosis
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
DPA-714 PET/MRIDrug
DPA-714 PET/MRI
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy Controls | Experimental | Not described Receives: Drug: DPA-714 PET/MRI |
| Fibromyalgia Subjects | Experimental | Not described Receives: Drug: DPA-714 PET/MRI |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Subjets | Experimental | Not described Receives: Drug: DPA-714 PET/MRI |
| Multiple Sclerosis Subjects | Experimental | Not described Receives: Drug: DPA-714 PET/MRI |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Neuroinflammation will be measured in healthy volunteers and compared to neuroinflammation in individuals with pain and fatigue, as measured with [F-18]DPA-714-PET/MRI.
Quantitative PET measures of TSPO binding in brain regions including cerebral cortex, thalami, and brainstem will be compared between healthy volunteers and symptomatic study participants with pain and/or fatigue.
Measured: 3 years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Nov 2018
- Study start3 Feb 2019
- Primary completionApr 2028 (estimated)
- Study completionApr 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for FibromyalgiaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of Alabama at BirminghamThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Primary purpose
- Diagnosis
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jonathan E McConathy, University of Alabama at Birmingham
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03759522
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB-300002209 R18-118
- Other IDs
- 5R01NS109529-05
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 6 Nov 2018
- Last updated
- 2 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Mueller C, Fang YD, Jones C, McConathy JE, Raman F, Lapi SE, Younger JW. Evidence of neuroinflammation in fibromyalgia syndrome: a [ 18 F]DPA-714 positron emission tomography study. Pain. 2023 Oct 1;164(10):2285-2295. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002927. Epub 2023 Jun 15.
PubMed 37326674
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Assessment of Neuroinflammation in Central Inflammatory Disorders Using [F-18]DPA-714.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03759522
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IRB-300002209 R18-118
- Conditions
- Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Healthy
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Alabama at BirminghamUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
- Study start
- 3 Feb 2019 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Apr 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Apr 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 30 Nov 2018 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The primary objective of this study is to measure the concentration and the regional brain distribution of activated brain microglia/macrophages using the PET radiopharmaceutical [F-18]DPA-714 in individuals with chronic pain and fatigue suspected to be associated with neuroinflammation. The PET tracer [F-18]DPA-714 binds to the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO, also known as the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor) in the mitochondria of activated microglia/macrophages and provides a non-invasive measure of neuroinflammation. The primary objective of this study is to determine if pain and fatigue patients have higher levels of neuroinflammation than HC individuals as measured with [F-18]DPA-714-PET/MRI.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Diagnosis
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy Controls | Experimental | Drug: DPA-714 PET/MRI |
| Fibromyalgia Subjects | Experimental | Drug: DPA-714 PET/MRI |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Subjets | Experimental | Drug: DPA-714 PET/MRI |
| Multiple Sclerosis Subjects | Experimental | Drug: DPA-714 PET/MRI |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- 18 to 65 years of age
- Healthy volunteer OR Clinical diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) OR Meets 2016 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) case definition criteria for fibromyalgia OR Meets 1994 Fukuda case definition criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Key exclusion criteria (11 listed)
- Contraindication to MRI
- Pregnancy
- Lactation
- Individuals who are unable to participate in the imaging portion due to severity of their medical condition
- Chronic infectious disease (e.g. HIV, HCV)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| DPA-714 PET/MRIDPA-714 PET/MRI | Drug | Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Subjets, Fibromyalgia Subjects, Healthy Controls, Multiple Sclerosis Subjects |
Primary outcome
Neuroinflammation will be measured in healthy volunteers and compared to neuroinflammation in individuals with pain and fatigue, as measured with [F-18]DPA-714-PET/MRI.
Time frame: 3 years
Quantitative PET measures of TSPO binding in brain regions including cerebral cortex, thalami, and brainstem will be compared between healthy volunteers and symptomatic study participants with pain and/or fatigue.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Jun 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 37326674Mueller C, Fang YD, Jones C, McConathy JE, Raman F, Lapi SE, Younger JW. Evidence of neuroinflammation in fibromyalgia syndrome: a [ 18 F]DPA-714 positron emission tomography study. Pain. 2023 Oct 1;164(10):2285-2295. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002927. Epub 2023 Jun 15.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 1 study testing DPA-714 PET/MRI in people with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, run by University of Alabama at Birmingham at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 11 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Jared Younger, PhD (205-975-5907, youngerlab@uab.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Neuroinflammation will be measured in healthy volunteers and compared to neuroinflammation in individuals with pain and fatigue, as measured with [F-18]DPA-714-PET/MRI. (time frame: 3 years). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03759522, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Jun 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.