High-Resolution Preclinical Multimodal PET/SPECT/CT Nuclear Imaging System
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Medicine
Abstract
Nuclear imaging is a branch of medical imaging that uses small amounts of radioactive material to diagnose and treat a variety of diseases. The emphasis of nuclear imaging is not anatomical but based on function. Radioactive tracers are designed to be actively taken up by a specific cell process to provide information of the physiological pathology of a disease. For example radioactive glucose is a sugar taken up by highly replicating cancer cells compared to normal cells allowing us to distinguish between benign and tumorous lesions. Nuclear imaging is broken down into two imaging disciplines; Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET), each have their own advantages for radioactive tracer development for identifying specific disease physiology. These three-dimensional imaging techniques are combined with computerized tomography (CT), a procedure that uses special x-ray equipment to create detailed pictures of the areas inside the body, for localization. In this application we request a highly sensitive multimodal PET/SPECT/CT system into which live mice can be placed. This equipment will allow us to follow radioactively labelled drugs, molecules, and cells to provide invaluable data on the function of organs in disease states and find new treatments for incurable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders and cancer.
Technical Summary
Nuclear imaging using Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) or Positron Emission Tomography (PET) allows high-sensitivity quantitative real-time and longitudinal imaging of physiological processes or molecular targets in vivo. Preclinical evaluation of novel radiotracers
is not only a requisite for their clinical translation but the development of new tracers has revolutionized the imaging of small animals enabling researchers to gain essential insights into complex biological systems.
Radiotracers are radiolabelled substrates of normal physiological pathways (activated probes) allowing the in vivo monitoring of cell receptor binding, enzyme activity, gene expression, and cell distribution. These radiolabelled probes are administered at tracer amounts so as to not perturb normal physiology but allows in vivo imaging studies under physiological conditions.
The state-of-the-art preclinical PET/SPECT/CT nuclear imaging system requested is capable of providing real-time dynamic imaging for both PET and SPECT to assess radiotracer pharmacokinetic characteristics such as in vivo target specificity, stability, and biodistribution up to sub-millimetre resolution. Providing a high-throughput platform for the functional whole-body molecular imaging across all organs in rodents. The equipment is simple to use, and the data obtained straightforward to analyse, making it ideal for multiple and non-expert users.
is not only a requisite for their clinical translation but the development of new tracers has revolutionized the imaging of small animals enabling researchers to gain essential insights into complex biological systems.
Radiotracers are radiolabelled substrates of normal physiological pathways (activated probes) allowing the in vivo monitoring of cell receptor binding, enzyme activity, gene expression, and cell distribution. These radiolabelled probes are administered at tracer amounts so as to not perturb normal physiology but allows in vivo imaging studies under physiological conditions.
The state-of-the-art preclinical PET/SPECT/CT nuclear imaging system requested is capable of providing real-time dynamic imaging for both PET and SPECT to assess radiotracer pharmacokinetic characteristics such as in vivo target specificity, stability, and biodistribution up to sub-millimetre resolution. Providing a high-throughput platform for the functional whole-body molecular imaging across all organs in rodents. The equipment is simple to use, and the data obtained straightforward to analyse, making it ideal for multiple and non-expert users.
