RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Development of an Improved Method of Measuring Total Body Bone Perfusion Using Total-body PET/CT

Broken bones are a big problem in conditions like osteoporosis. To help, doctors need a good way to see how much blood flows through our bones. This study at St Thomas' Hospital is testing new, advanced PET/CT scanners to do just that. They're much better than old scanners at showing bone blood flow. Researchers are asking ten healthy volunteers, men and women over 50, to have a special one-hour scan. They'll also take a few small blood samples. This will help them develop a more accurate and less invasive method to measure bone blood flow, which could lead to better treatments for bone diseases in the future.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

King's College London

Enrolment target

Start

23 Sep 2026

Estimated completion

31 Oct 2027

Healthy Volunteers - Male and Female

What is this study about?

When bones break easily, it can be a sign of conditions like osteoporosis (weak bones), kidney problems, or sickle cell disease. To understand these conditions better and find new ways to treat them, doctors need a clear picture of how much blood is flowing through our bones. Blood flow is essential for healthy bones, just like it is for every other part of our body.

Traditionally, it's been tricky to measure bone blood flow in people. But now, St Thomas' Hospital in London has some amazing new scanners called PET/CT. These scanners are very powerful and can take detailed pictures of the whole body. They can also use a small, safe amount of a special tracer (like a dye) called [18F]-sodium fluoride to highlight how blood moves through your bones. This study wants to make sure these new scanners can give us the best and most reliable information.

This pilot study is a first step. Ten healthy volunteers will help the research team find the best way to use these new scanners. The main goal is to develop a better and simpler method for checking bone blood flow. This could mean we won't need to take as many blood samples in future research, making it easier for patients. Ultimately, this work could open doors to better ways of diagnosing and treating bone diseases, making a real difference to people's health.

Key takeaways

This study aims to find a better way to measure blood flow in bones.
It uses new, advanced PET/CT scanners at St Thomas' Hospital.
Healthy volunteers (men and women over 50) are needed for a one-hour scan.
A small, safe amount of a tracer and a few blood samples are involved.
The goal is to improve future understanding and treatment of bone diseases.
Your involvement helps science, but won't provide personal medical results.

Who may be eligible?

Researchers are looking for ten healthy people to join this study. They need five men and five women, and everyone must be over 50 years old. It's important that you don't have any bone conditions like osteoporosis or cancer that has spread to the bones.

You should also be generally healthy, able to lie still and flat for about an hour, and have good bladder control. The team also needs to be able to find a vein easily in your arm for the small blood tests and injection. Please remember, you must not be pregnant to take part.

There are a few reasons you might not be able to join. For example, if you are very tall (over 6 feet 1 inch) or weigh more than 15 stone, it might affect the scan quality. You also can't have metal in your body (like a pacemaker) or suffer from claustrophobia, as the scan involves lying inside a machine. If you've had other scans with radiation in the last year, you might not be suitable either.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a man or woman aged over 50?
Do you feel generally healthy and don't have osteoporosis or cancer affecting your bones?
Can you lie still and flat for about an hour?
Do you have good bladder control?
Are you able to have small blood tests from your arm?
Are you less than 6 feet 1 inch tall and weigh under 15 stone?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to join this study, your involvement will be quite straightforward. You will have one visit to St Thomas' Hospital, which will last for approximately one hour.

During this visit, you'll have a special type of scan called a PET/CT scan. Before the scan, a small amount of a safe, radioactive tracer (like a dye) will be injected into a vein in your arm. This tracer helps the scanner see the blood flow in your bones. The scan itself involves lying still on a bed that moves through the scanner, taking pictures from your head down to your upper thighs. You'll need to stay as still as possible for about an hour. While you're having the scan, the researchers will also take five small blood samples from your arm at different times. These samples will help them check their new scanning method.

There are no medications for you to take as part of this study, and no long-term follow-up visits are required after your scan. Your total involvement will be limited to this single visit and the scan.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in any study has potential benefits and risks. For you, the main benefit is contributing to medical science, helping researchers develop better tools to understand and treat bone diseases for future patients. This study will not directly improve your own health or diagnose any conditions you might have. The main risk comes from the PET/CT scan, which uses a small amount of radiation. This is similar to the radiation you might get from a few standard X-rays, and the medical team will make sure it's as low as safely possible. You might also feel a slight pinch when the injection and blood samples are taken. There's a very small chance of a mild allergic reaction to the tracer. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and it won't affect your medical care.

Locations (1)

King's College London
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is a PET/CT scan?

A PET/CT scan is a special imaging test that combines two types of scans. It helps doctors see how your body's cells are working and also shows detailed pictures of your bones and organs.

Is the radioactive tracer safe?

Yes, the tracer used ([18F]-sodium fluoride) is very safe. It's given in a very small amount, and the radioactivity leaves your body quickly. The research team will explain everything fully.

Will I feel anything during the scan?

You won't feel anything from the scan itself, but you'll need to lie still for about an hour. You might feel a slight pinch when the injection and blood samples are taken.

How long will my visit to the hospital take?

The entire visit, including the scan and blood tests, will take around one hour of active participation, plus a little time for preparation and discussion.

Will I get my scan results?

This is a research study to develop a new method, not a diagnostic test for you personally. The scans are for research purposes, so you won't receive individual results from this scan.

How to find out more

Amelia Moore, PhD

amelia.moore@kcl.ac.uk +44 0207 188 4092 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.