Jason Cai, PhD
Associate Professor of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging and of PharmacologyDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Appointments
Pharmacology
Secondary
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About
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Associate Professor of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging and of Pharmacology
Biography
Dr. Jason Cai is an Associate Professor of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging and of Pharmacology, with expertise in Medicinal Chemistry and Radiopharmaceutical Sciences. After studying at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Dr. Cai joined Carolyn Anderson’s lab at the University of Pittsburgh as a postdoctoral associate, focusing on radiopharmaceutical development and preclinical PET imaging in oncology. In 2015, he joint Yale PET Center to expand his research portfolio to brain PET imaging. His research group is currently focusing on the development and translation of novel PET imaging probes for drug PK/PD study and the investigation of CNS disorders and Oncology. He is the recipient of the NIH Career Development Award (K01) in 2017, SNMMI Berson-Yalow Award in 2018, and Archer Foundation Research Scholar Award in 2019.
Appointments
Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
Associate Professor on TermPrimaryPharmacology
Associate Professor on TermSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Bioimaging Sciences
- Center for Brain & Mind Health
- Mental Health PET Radioligand Development (MHPRD) Program
- Molecular Medicine, Pharmacology, and Physiology
- MR Core
- PET Core
- Pharmacology
- Radiobiology and Genome Integrity
- Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
- Wu Tsai Institute
- Yale Biomedical Imaging Institute
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale Center for Immuno-Oncology
- Yale Combined Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS)
Education & Training
- Postdoctoral/Research Associate
- University of Pittsburgh (2015)
- PhD
- University of Missouri-Columbia, Chemistry (2011)
Research
Overview
PET imaging; Brain imaging; Cancer diagnosis and prognosis; Biomarker and drug discovery and development
Medical Research Interests
Alzheimer Disease; Biomarkers; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Drug Development; Drug Discovery; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Pharmacokinetics; Pharmacology; Positron-Emission Tomography
Public Health Interests
Aging; Biomarkers
ORCID
0000-0002-2005-6760
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Jason Cai's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Jason Cai's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Jason Cai is interested in exploring.
Nabeel Nabulsi, PhD
Yiyun Huang, PhD
Richard Carson, PhD
Takuya Toyonaga, MD, PhD
David Matuskey, MD
Stephen Strittmatter, MD, PhD, AB
17Publications
254Citations
Positron-Emission Tomography
Alzheimer Disease
Biomarkers
Publications
2025
Current Advances in PARP1‐Targeted Theranostics
Tong J, Chen B, Volpi T, Li Y, Ellison P, Cai Z. Current Advances in PARP1‐Targeted Theranostics. Journal Of Labelled Compounds And Radiopharmaceuticals 2025, 68: e4135. PMID: 39995212, DOI: 10.1002/jlcr.4135.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPoly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1Blood-brain barrierCentral nervous systemBlood-tumor barrierPotential clinical useBRCA mutationsHomologous recombination repair pathwayPARP inhibitorsPharmacodynamic evaluationPatient stratificationPersonalized oncologyPharmacological characteristicsClinical useBrain tumorsBrain barrierDiagnostic imagingPET imagingCancerNervous systemTherapeutic interventionsBrain cancerPathophysiological conditionsTreatment assessmentPARPiNeurological disorders
2024
Repetitive Mild Closed-Head Injury Induced Synapse Loss and Increased Local BOLD-fMRI Signal Homogeneity
Markicevic M, Mandino F, Toyonaga T, Cai Z, Fesharaki-Zadeh A, Shen X, Strittmatter S, Lake E. Repetitive Mild Closed-Head Injury Induced Synapse Loss and Increased Local BOLD-fMRI Signal Homogeneity. Journal Of Neurotrauma 2024, 41: 2528-2544. PMID: 39096127, PMCID: PMC11698675, DOI: 10.1089/neu.2024.0095.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsChronic variable stressRegional homogeneityFunctional brain abnormalitiesSynapse densityMild closed-head injuryClosed-head injuryTraumatic brain injuryTreat traumatic brain injuryNeurobiological alterationsMild head injuryVariable stressBrain abnormalitiesPositron emission tomographyMultimodal studiesSynaptic densityMagnetic resonance imagingBrain imagingBrain injuryInduce synapse lossFMRIInjured miceMouse modelEmission tomographyResonance imagingCompensatory mechanismsNoninvasive quantification of [18F]SynVesT-1 binding using simplified reference tissue model 2
Naganawa M, Gallezot J, Li S, Nabulsi N, Henry S, Cai Z, Matuskey D, Huang Y, Carson R. Noninvasive quantification of [18F]SynVesT-1 binding using simplified reference tissue model 2. European Journal Of Nuclear Medicine And Molecular Imaging 2024, 52: 113-121. PMID: 39155309, DOI: 10.1007/s00259-024-06885-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsPositron emission tomographyCentrum semiovaleReference regionPositron emission tomography scanTest-retest variabilityTest-retest reproducibilitySynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AOne-tissue compartmentArterial blood samplesRetest scansGold standardBrain uptakeEmission tomographyBlood samplesCerebellumNoninvasive quantificationSRTM2ConclusionOur findingsPopulation averageHealthy participantsMetabolite analysisScan timeBPNDSemiovaleFirst-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 imaging
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.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 curvesNeuronal transcriptome, tau and synapse loss in Alzheimer’s knock-in mice require prion protein
Stoner A, Fu L, Nicholson L, Zheng C, Toyonaga T, Spurrier J, Laird W, Cai Z, Strittmatter S. Neuronal transcriptome, tau and synapse loss in Alzheimer’s knock-in mice require prion protein. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy 2023, 15: 201. PMID: 37968719, PMCID: PMC10647125, DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01345-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSynapse lossDKI miceTau accumulationBrain immune activationNeural network dysfunctionPhospho-tau accumulationAccumulation of tauNeuronal genesInflammatory markersAD miceAβ levelsPrion proteinDystrophic neuritesImmune activationTau pathologyNeuronal gene expressionAmyloid-β OligomersGliotic reactionNetwork dysfunctionBehavioral deficitsSynaptic failureAD modelMemory impairmentAlzheimer's diseaseFunction of ageDecreased Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A Binding in the Human Postmortem Essential Tremor Cerebellum: Evidence of Reduction in Synaptic Density
Yang Y, Zheng C, Chen B, Hernandez N, Faust P, Cai Z, Louis E, Matuskey D. Decreased Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A Binding in the Human Postmortem Essential Tremor Cerebellum: Evidence of Reduction in Synaptic Density. The Cerebellum 2023, 23: 1053-1060. PMID: 37783917, DOI: 10.1007/s12311-023-01611-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AAge-matched controlsSynaptic densityEssential tremorDentate nucleusCerebellar cortexET casesPilot studyLower synaptic densityPrevalent neurological diseaseNumerous degenerative changesNeuropathological alterationsMild atrophyNeuropathological studiesSynaptic markersMethodsThe current studyPostmortem studiesDegenerative changesNeuroimaging signaturesET patientsNeurological diseasesCerebellumEvidence of reductionCortexAtrophyPreclinical evaluation of a brain penetrant PARP PET imaging probe in rat glioblastoma and nonhuman primates
Chen B, Ojha D, Toyonaga T, Tong J, Pracitto R, Thomas M, Liu M, Kapinos M, Zhang L, Zheng M, Holden D, Fowles K, Ropchan J, Nabulsi N, De Feyter H, Carson R, Huang Y, Cai Z. Preclinical evaluation of a brain penetrant PARP PET imaging probe in rat glioblastoma and nonhuman primates. European Journal Of Nuclear Medicine And Molecular Imaging 2023, 50: 2081-2099. PMID: 36849748, DOI: 10.1007/s00259-023-06162-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPositron emission tomographyHealthy nonhuman primatesVolume of distributionDistribution volume ratioBrain kineticsRat glioblastoma modelPreclinical evaluationBrain regionsGlioblastoma modelPET tracersNonhuman primatesTumor-bearing ratsEx vivo biodistributionPET imaging resultsActive clinical trialsTreatment of glioblastomaHigh specific uptakeDynamic PET scansNoninvasive quantificationBrain positron emission tomographyNondisplaceable volumeBrain penetrationLow nonspecific uptakePrognostic informationClinical trialsDecreased synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A binding in a rodent model of familial Alzheimer's disease detected by [18F]SDM-16
Zheng C, Toyonaga T, Chen B, Nicholson L, Mennie W, Liu M, Spurrier J, Deluca K, Strittmatter S, Carson R, Huang Y, Cai Z. Decreased synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A binding in a rodent model of familial Alzheimer's disease detected by [18F]SDM-16. Frontiers In Neurology 2023, 14: 1045644. PMID: 36846134, PMCID: PMC9945093, DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1045644.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsStandardized uptake value ratioDistribution volume ratioAlzheimer's diseaseSimplified reference tissue modelSynapse lossMouse modelAPP/PS1 miceAge-matched wild-type miceAPPswe/PS1dE9 mouse modelAPP/PS1 AD mouse modelSlow brain kineticsAD mouse modelSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2APseudo-reference regionWild-type miceUptake value ratioMonths of ageDifferent brain regionsDifferent imaging windowsFamilial Alzheimer's diseasePET imaging studiesReference tissue modelPS1 miceBrain stemBrain kinetics
2022
Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases as PET imaging targets for central nervous system diseases
Tong J, Chen B, Tan P, Kurpiewski S, Cai Z. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases as PET imaging targets for central nervous system diseases. Frontiers In Medicine 2022, 9: 1062432. PMID: 36438061, PMCID: PMC9685622, DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1062432.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsPositron emission tomographyCentral nervous systemCNS diseaseNeurological disordersCentral nervous system diseaseNoninvasive positron emission tomographyNervous system diseasesIntense DNA damagePlausible therapeutic targetTherapeutic responseInflammatory responseSystem diseasesTherapeutic targetNervous systemNeurological diseasesEmission tomographyDiseasePARP1/2 inhibitorsPoly (ADP-ribose) polymeraseExpression levelsImaging targetsDisordersDNA damagePARP1/2Inflammation
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Honors
honor Archer Foundation Research Award
01/01/2019National AwardArcher FoundationDetailsUnited Stateshonor Berson-Yalow Award
06/24/2018International AwardSNMMIDetailsUnited Stateshonor Young Investigator Award
07/16/2016International AwardFunctional NeuroReceptor MappingDetailsUnited States
News & Links
Media
- Zheng, C. et al. A metabolically stable PET probe for imaging the synaptic vesicle protein 2A: Synthesis and preclinical characterization of [18F]SDM-16.
- The in vivo quantification of synaptic density by SV2A PET in rodent brains opens an avenue to measure the synaptic dynamics in the context of other proteinopathies and circuit changes longitudinally for mechanistical studies and to monitor therapeutical interventions preclinically.
News
- July 10, 2020
Jason Cai, PhD, Awarded NIH Grant to Develop PET Imaging Agents for CXCR5
- April 27, 2020
Jason Cai, PhD, Receives NIH Grant to Develop PARP PET Radiotracer
- August 13, 2019
Jason Cai, PhD, Awarded NIH Grant for PET Ligand Development
- February 04, 2019
Alzheimer's Disease Research Center will hold a research day on Feb. 12
Get In Touch
Contacts
Email
Academic Office Number
Mailing Address
PET Core
801 Howard Ave
New Haven, CT 06519
United States
Locations
Laboratory for Medicine and Pediatrics (LMP)
Academic Office
15 York Street, Rm LMP89D
New Haven, CT 06510