2010 MIPS Molecular Imaging Seminar Series

1. Imaging the macromolecular structure (i.e. collagen and elastin) of the arterial wall to examine the earliest events associated with LDL deposition and atherosclerosis using second harmonic and fluorescence imaging.
2. Application of this approach to study the structure and dynamics of skeletal muscle microvasculature and intra-cellular regional metabolism, in vivo.

Dr. Lewis' research interests are focused on the development of new PET radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. His work incorporates F-18, C-11, and nonstandard nuclide radiopharmaceutical development, with an emphasis on cancer detection and therapy. The Lewis Lab works on the development of small molecules, radiolabeled peptides and antibodies that target the overexpression of receptors and antigens on tumors as well as imaging changes in the tumor microenvironment associated with malignancy.

This presentation will review the current state-of-the-art in non-standard PET nuclide application with an emphasis on the use of radiometals with peptide and antibody constructs. In addition, since the effective use of a radiometal nuclide often relies on their attachment to the targeting probe via a bifunctional chelator, this talk will focus on novel strategies for using “click” chemistry methodology for attachment of the radiometals to active biomolecules.

Abstract:

Modern optical microscopy has grown into a multi-dimensional imaging tool. It is now possible to record dynamic processes in living specimens in their spatial context and temporal order, yielding information-rich 5-D images (3-D space, time, spectra). The task of analyzing these images exceeds human ability. There is a need for automated systems to map the tissue anatomy, quantify structural associations, identify critical events, map event locations and timing, identify and quantify spatial and temporal dependencies, produce meaningful summaries of multivariate measurement data, and compare 4-D/5-D datasets for testing hypotheses, exploration, and systems modeling. Importantly, there is a need for "computational sensing" methods capable of exceeding human ability.

In this talk, I will use examples from neuroscience, cancer histopathology, immunology, and retinal stem-cell biology to show the practicality of multi-dimensional image analysis and computational sensing.

Osman Ratib, MD, PhD
Prof & Chair of Radiology
Dept of Med Imaging & Info Sci
University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland

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Abstract:
This presentation reports our initial experience with a first whole-body PET-MR imaging prototype unit at the University Hospital of Geneva. A prototype whole-body scanner combining a 3T MR and a time-of-flight PET scanner sharing a single bed allowing sequential acquisition of co-registered MR and PET images was implemented and tested. This device consists of the two separate scanners linked through a single patient table allowing sequential imaging of the patient moving from one device to another.

The presentation will report our initial clinical experience and will focus on the performance and clinical applicability of combined imaging protocols on hybrid PET-MR scanner for oncology. It will also report our first clinical experience in patients and our preliminary observation and attempted efforts on the optimization of imaging protocols and acquisition of diagnostic quality whole body images in clinically acceptable time frame.

Optimized imaging protocols combining whole body MR attenuation correction data set with standard MR diagnostic protocols of both modalities while reducing the total time of the study were developed. Clinical results from this hybrid imaging technique applied to oncology investigations were evaluated and compared to findings of corresponding standard PET-CT studies. Initial studies included lymphomas, head and neck tumors, prostate and breast tumors as well as lung and colon cancers. Diagnostic quality of fused PET-MR images were compared to corresponding PET-CT studies.