Yiyun Huang, PhD
Professor of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingDownloadHi-Res Photo
Cards
Appointments
Additional Titles
Associate Director of PET Center, Director of PET Chemistry, Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
Contact Info
Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
PO Box 208048, Yale PET Center
New Haven, CT 06520-8048
United States
Appointments
Additional Titles
Associate Director of PET Center, Director of PET Chemistry, Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
Contact Info
Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
PO Box 208048, Yale PET Center
New Haven, CT 06520-8048
United States
Appointments
Additional Titles
Associate Director of PET Center, Director of PET Chemistry, Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
Contact Info
Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
PO Box 208048, Yale PET Center
New Haven, CT 06520-8048
United States
About
Titles
Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging
Associate Director of PET Center, Director of PET Chemistry, Radiology & Biomedical ImagingAppointments
Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- PhD
- University of Akron (1993)
- Postdoctoral Fellow
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
Research
Overview
The main focus of Dr. Henry Huang's research is the development of new and improved Positron Emission Tomography (PET) radioligands. PET ligand development is a process that involves the interplays of chemistry, biology, pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, and it requires a good understanding of all these scientific disciplines. Over the years Dr. Huang has been involved in the development of new or improved PET radioligands for the dopamine, serotonin, glutamate and acetylcholine receptors and transporters in the brain. Development of PET radioligands includes the following stages: 1. design and synthesis of candidate ligands; 2. in vitro pharmacological experiments to determine binding affinities and selectivity. 3. design and execution of biological and pharmacological experiments in live animals including rodents and non-human primates to evaluate the ligands’ in vivo pharmacology and pharmacokinetics such as distribution, binding selectivity and specificity, metabolism, clearance, and blood and brain kinetics; 4. determination of dosimetry and toxicology; 5. clinical trials to determine the ligands’ suitability for applications in humans to image targeted receptors, proteins, or enzymes.
PET imaging technique can be used to determine the concentrations of CNS receptors and transporters in discrete brain regions under normal conditions. It can also be used to probe the changes in the densities of certain receptors and transporters in diseases. Coupled with pharmacological manipulation or stimulation, PET imaging is capable of probing the abnormality in the neurotransmission system functions under diseased conditions. Further applications include determination of the receptor occupancy by marketed or experimental drugs and monitoring the outcome of drug treatment for diseases. In all these applications the key is the availability of an appropriate PET radioligand for a specific receptor, transporter, or enzyme. Therefore, development of PET radioligands is a critical component of PET imaging and will continue to be the major part of Dr. Huang's research. His current interest is the development of ligands for targets in the CNS encompassing many of the neurotransmission systems.
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Yiyun Huang's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Yiyun Huang's research output by year.
Richard Carson, PhD
Nabeel Nabulsi, PhD
David Matuskey, MD
Songye Li, PhD
Takuya Toyonaga, MD, PhD
Mika Naganawa, PhD
58Publications
2,235Citations
Publications
2024
Presynaptic density determined by SV2A PET is closely associated with postsynaptic metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 availability and independent of amyloid pathology in early cognitive impairment
Wang J, Huang Q, He K, Li J, Guo T, Yang Y, Lin Z, Li S, Vanderlinden G, Huang Y, Van Laere K, Guan Y, Guo Q, Ni R, Li B, Xie F. Presynaptic density determined by SV2A PET is closely associated with postsynaptic metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 availability and independent of amyloid pathology in early cognitive impairment. Alzheimer's & Dementia 2024, 20: 3876-3888. PMID: 38634334, PMCID: PMC11180932, DOI: 10.1002/alz.13817.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsMGluR5 availabilityMedial temporal lobeSynaptic densityTemporal lobeHealthy controlsAlzheimer's diseaseMetabotropic glutamate receptor 5Glutamate receptor 5Synaptic lossIntegrative brain functionsCognitively impaired patientsEarly cognitive impairmentGlobal cognitionMGluR5 signalingMediation analysisPathophysiological mechanism of Alzheimer's diseaseBrain functionCognitive impairmentMGluR5CognitionImproving synaptic functionImpaired patientsSynaptic functionSynaptic transmissionAmyloid pathologyTau pathology is associated with synaptic density and longitudinal synaptic loss in Alzheimer’s disease
Wang J, Huang Q, Chen X, You Z, He K, Guo Q, Huang Y, Yang Y, Lin Z, Guo T, Zhao J, Guan Y, Li B, Xie F. Tau pathology is associated with synaptic density and longitudinal synaptic loss in Alzheimer’s disease. Molecular Psychiatry 2024, 1-11. PMID: 38589563, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02501-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsTau pathologySynaptic lossTau tanglesAlzheimer's diseaseAssociated with synaptic lossAD patientsMild cognitive impairmentMild cognitive impairment patientsAmyloid-bPlasma p-tauP-tau181 levelsAssociation of ABSynaptic densityP-tauNormal controlsPositron emission tomographyMediation analysisTemporal lobeTauTau burdenP-tau181One-year follow-up assessmentSeventy-five participantsTanglesFollow-up assessmentAPOE ε4 is associated with decreased synaptic density in cognitively impaired participants
He K, Li B, Wang J, Wang Y, You Z, Chen X, Chen H, Li J, Huang Q, Guo Q, Huang Y, Guan Y, Chen K, Zhao J, Deng Y, Xie F. APOE ε4 is associated with decreased synaptic density in cognitively impaired participants. Alzheimer's & Dementia 2024, 20: 3157-3166. PMID: 38477490, PMCID: PMC11095422, DOI: 10.1002/alz.13775.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsApolipoprotein E4Tau pathologyAlzheimer's diseaseApo E4AD biomarkersAPOE e4 allele carriersAmyloid-betaEffects of apolipoprotein E4Synaptic lossAPOE e4 alleleSynaptic densitySynaptic density lossNon-carriersE4 alleleE4 allele carriersE4 genotypeTauGenotypesPositron emission tomographyAllele carriersMedial temporal lobeAllelesAmyloidEffect of APOE E4Cognitively impaired participantsFirst-in-Human Study of 18F-SynVesT-2: An SV2A PET Imaging Probe with Fast Brain Kinetics and High Specific Binding
Drake L, Wu Y, Naganawa M, Asch R, Zheng C, Najafzadeh S, Pracitto R, Lindemann M, Li S, Ropchan J, Labaree D, Emery P, Dias M, Henry S, Nabulsi N, Matuskey D, Hillmer A, Gallezot J, Carson R, Cai Z, Huang Y. First-in-Human Study of 18F-SynVesT-2: An SV2A PET Imaging Probe with Fast Brain Kinetics and High Specific Binding. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2024, 65: jnumed.123.266470. PMID: 38360052, PMCID: PMC10924160, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.123.266470.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsFirst-in-human studyPlasma free fractionTime-activity curvesCentrum semiovaleNonhuman primate's resultsFirst-in-humanFree fractionNondisplaceable binding potentialRegional time-activity curvesLow nonspecific uptakeRegional distribution volumesHigh-resolution research tomograph scannerTest-retest reproducibilityCerebral blood flowSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AHealthy volunteersArterial input functionNonspecific uptakePET imaging probeDistribution volumeSynapse densityIndividual MR imagesHighest specific bindingMR imagingPET imagingIntense exercise increases dopamine transporter and neuromelanin concentrations in the substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease
de Laat B, Hoye J, Stanley G, Hespeler M, Ligi J, Mohan V, Wooten D, Zhang X, Nguyen T, Key J, Colonna G, Huang Y, Nabulsi N, Patel A, Matuskey D, Morris E, Tinaz S. Intense exercise increases dopamine transporter and neuromelanin concentrations in the substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease. Npj Parkinson's Disease 2024, 10: 34. PMID: 38336768, PMCID: PMC10858031, DOI: 10.1038/s41531-024-00641-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsDopamine transporterSubstantia nigraDopaminergic neuronsDopamine transporter availabilityNeuroprotective effects of exerciseDopaminergic systemClinical progression of PDEarly PDSubstantiaNeuromelanin contentNigraLoss of dopaminergic neuronsEffects of exerciseNM-MRIDopamineSystem of patientsProgressive loss of dopaminergic neuronsParkinson's diseaseClinical progressionProgression of PDNeuroprotective effectsClinical trialsIntensity exercisePET imagingProgressive lossThe associations between synaptic density and “A/T/N” biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease: An 18F-SynVesT-1 PET/MR study
Li J, Huang Q, Qi N, He K, Li S, Huang L, Pan F, Ren S, Hua F, Huang Y, Guan Y, Guo Q, Zhao J, Xie F. The associations between synaptic density and “A/T/N” biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease: An 18F-SynVesT-1 PET/MR study. Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 2024, 44: 1199-1207. PMID: 38295871, PMCID: PMC11179616, DOI: 10.1177/0271678x241230733.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsSynaptic densityF-FDG PET/CTInvestigate synaptic densityFDG uptakeF-FDGCognitive impairmentClinical syndromeCI groupPlasma testingPET/MR studiesPathological changesSubgroups of individualsSynaptic density lossDensity lossBiomarkersAlzheimer's clinical syndromePatientsPET/MRHippocampusAlzheimer's diseaseHippocampal volumeParahippocampal gyrusCI+ groupDiseaseSynapse lossA pilot study to evaluate the effect of CT1812 treatment on synaptic density and other biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease
van Dyck C, Mecca A, O’Dell R, Bartlett H, Diepenbrock N, Huang Y, Hamby M, Grundman M, Catalano S, Caggiano A, Carson R. A pilot study to evaluate the effect of CT1812 treatment on synaptic density and other biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy 2024, 16: 20. PMID: 38273408, PMCID: PMC10809445, DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01382-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMild to moderate dementiaPositron emission tomographyAlzheimer's diseaseVolumetric MRIModerate dementiaClinical rating scalesSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2ACerebrospinal fluidMouse model of ADPharmacodynamic effectsPlacebo-controlled phase 1 clinical trialBiomarkers of AD pathologyClinical trialsCognitive measuresNominally significant differencesPhase 1 clinical trialModel of ADHippocampal cortexPhase 1/2 studyRating ScaleParallel-group trialSynaptic densityTrial registrationThe clinical trialPlacebo-controlledSigma-2 receptor ligandsImaging a putative marker of brain cortisol regulation in alcohol use disorder
Verplaetse T, Hillmer A, Bhatt S, Rusowicz A, Li S, Nabulsi N, Matuskey D, Huang Y, McKee S, Cosgrove K. Imaging a putative marker of brain cortisol regulation in alcohol use disorder. Neurobiology Of Stress 2024, 29: 100609. PMID: 38304303, PMCID: PMC10832501, DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2024.100609.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsAlcohol use disorderAnterior cingulate cortexDrinking days/weekModerate to severe alcohol use disorderHealthy controlsHypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axisSevere alcohol use disorderPositron emission tomographyHPA axis dysfunctionHPA axis functionRelease of glucocorticoid hormonesAlcohol consumptionAssociated with drinkingVentromedial PFCCingulate cortexHigh-resolution research tomographHPA activityUse disorderDrinking episodesCortisol regulationAxis functionVmPFCPeripheral cortisolBrain availabilityDisordered background
2023
PET Imaging of Rho‐Associated Protein Kinase 2 in A Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Zheng C, Nicholson L, Chen B, Toyonaga T, Liu M, Strittmatter S, Carson R, Huang Y, Cai Z. PET Imaging of Rho‐Associated Protein Kinase 2 in A Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer's & Dementia 2023, 19 DOI: 10.1002/alz.075782.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAPP/PS1 micePS1 miceWT miceCentral nervous systemTime-activity curvesAlzheimer's diseaseAPP/PS1 transgenic miceAPP/PS1 transgenic AD miceMouse brainAge-matched WT controlsPS1 transgenic miceAPP/PS1Transgenic AD miceDynamic PET imaging dataROCK2 protein expressionAD drug discoveryHigh tracer uptakeMin post injectionPET imaging resultsExpression levelsReference tissue model 2PET imaging dataProtein expression levelsAD miceMouse modelPET Imaging of Rho‐Associated Protein Kinase 2 in A Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Zheng C, Nicholson L, Chen B, Toyonaga T, Liu M, Strittmatter S, Carson R, Huang Y, Cai Z. PET Imaging of Rho‐Associated Protein Kinase 2 in A Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer's & Dementia 2023, 19 DOI: 10.1002/alz.081695.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAPP/PS1 micePS1 miceWT miceCentral nervous systemTime-activity curvesAlzheimer's diseaseAPP/PS1 transgenic miceAPP/PS1 transgenic AD miceMouse brainAge-matched WT controlsPS1 transgenic miceAPP/PS1Transgenic AD miceDynamic PET imaging dataROCK2 protein expressionAD drug discoveryHigh tracer uptakeMin post injectionPET imaging resultsExpression levelsReference tissue model 2PET imaging dataProtein expression levelsAD miceRegional time-activity curves
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Study of Safety and of the Mechanism of BLZ945 in ALS Patients
HIC ID2000026495RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date04/05/2022Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 75 yearsImaging cortisol metabolism in liver, adipose tissue and brain with a novel PET radioligand
HIC ID2000029576RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date06/30/2024Recruiting ParticipantsHPA axis function in the brains of PTSD, Trauma Exposed, or Otherwise Healthy research participants utilizing PET and MRI imaging
HIC ID2000028748RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date08/31/2025Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 55 yearsImaging Cannabinoid Receptors Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scanning
HIC ID1005006735RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2016Recruiting ParticipantsGenderMaleAge18 years - 55 yearsImaging the Dopamine Transporter in Parkinson's Disease
HIC ID2000023896RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2020Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge40+ years
Academic Achievements and Community Involvement
honor Distinguished Investigator Award
National AwardAcademy for Radiology & Biomedical Imaging ResearchDetails11/28/2017United Stateshonor NARSAD Young Investigator Award
UnknownNARSADDetails01/01/1999United States
Links & Media
News
- January 29, 2023
Symposium Highlights Importance of Biomedical Imaging for Understanding Neurological Disease
- December 12, 2021
Yale Study: Lower Prefrontal Cortical Synaptic Vesicle Binding in Cocaine Use Disorder
- December 09, 2020Source: Molecular Psychiatry
Preliminary in vivo evidence of lower hippocampal synaptic density in cannabis use disorder
- September 13, 2019
Yale Radiology and Psychiatry Researchers Join with Penn Medicine to Create a New Center to Study Opioid Use Disorders
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Contacts
Email
Mailing Address
Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
PO Box 208048, Yale PET Center
New Haven, CT 06520-8048
United States