STANDARDIZATION OF PRECLINICAL PET/CT PROTOCOLS ACROSS MULTIPLE RESEARCH CENTRES

Small animal in vivo imaging modalities, such as, positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT)
imaging have empowered preclinical research because: (1) these imaging techniques are less invasive than other
techniques; (2) the use of animals as their own controls, reduces the number of animals to be used and improves the
statistical power, with consequent scientific benefits; and (3) these imaging platforms provide a unique straightforward
translational paradigm.
Although the use of non-invasive preclinical PET/CT imaging is rapidly increasing, there is a lack of standardization of
imaging protocols and characterization of different parameters for each scanning platform. This limits the comparison of
preclinical research results across different sites and the translation of findings to clinical trials. The difficulties of
standardization of preclinical PET/CT protocols are in part due to the vast number of critical acquisition and reconstruction
parameters and their combinations provided by different scanner vendors. Cumulative severity concerns regarding
radiation exposure of the animals have also emerged, predominantly with CT imaging, and a comprehensive and
systematic study examining the animal radiation exposure to different CT settings is needed.
This project aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of these multiple factors that affect the outcome of preclinical
PET/CT imaging results across multiple centres and scanners, while maintaining the small animal absorbed doses as low
as possible, in order to work towards standardization of small animal PET/CT imaging protocols.