Date/Time
Date(s) - 29/02/2024
1:30 pm - 2:20 pm

Title: From Isotopes to Images: Applications of PET Radiometals for Nuclear Medicine

Date: Thursday February 29, 2024

Time: 1:30-2:20pm

Room: ABB 165

Host: Dr. James Inkster

Abstract: Molecular imaging is a powerful technique that can be applied to basic, translational, and clinical research as well as to routine patient care. In particular, Positron Emission Tomography (PET)  allows for spatial localization and quantification of biological processes such as metabolism, enzyme activity, cell proliferation, receptor density and cellular transport that are not readily assessed with conventional anatomic imaging techniques. Using the UAB TR24 cyclotron, our group has focused on the production and purification of radioactive isotopes to expand the toolbox of nuclear imaging agents. These have included transition metals such as ⁵²Mn, ⁶⁴Cu, ⁵⁵Co, ⁸⁹Zr, ^43,47Sc and ⁴⁵Ti.  Additional research has developed chemistry to incorporate these radioisotopes into new imaging radiopharmaceuticals for preclinical or clinical research for many diseases.  In particular, our group has focused on the use of ⁸⁹Zr radiolabeled antibodies for imaging of cell surface receptor expression (HER2, EGFR, LAT1) in preclinical models and in a clinical trial of metastatic breast cancer patients.  Recent work has also resulted in new radiochemistry techniques for the development of new radiopharmaceuticals for theranostic oncologic applications.