Molecular Imaging

Molecular imaging (also called nuclear medicine or nuclear imaging) can image the function of cells inside the body at the molecular level. This includes the imaging modalities of positron emission computed tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. How does PET and SPECT imaging work? Small amounts of radioactive material (radiopharmaceuticals) injected into a patient. These can use sugars or chemical traits to bond to specific cells. The radioactive material is taken up by cells that consume the sugars. The radiation emitted from inside the body is detected by photon detectors outside the body. Computers take the data to assemble images of the radiation emissions. Nuclear images may appear fuzzy or ghostly rather than the sharper resolution from MRI and CT. But, it provides metabolic information at a cellular level, showing if there are defects in the function of the heart, areas of very high metabolic activity associated with cancer cells, or areas of inflammation, data not available from other modalities. These noninvasive imaging exams are used to diagnose cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, bone disorders and other disorders.

Researchers receive grant worth millions to develop portable PET scanner
Experts are hopeful that the portable scanner could improve access to neuroimaging used in the diagnosis and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease.
Why is the US still dependent on foreign medical isotope production?
The U.S currently does not have any large-scale commercial production of the isotope Mo-99 used for nuclear imaging. It is critical to more 40,000 nuclear imaging exams each day, representing about 80% of all diagnostic molecular imaging procedures.
Downed high-flux reactor could restart sooner than anticipated
The announcement will come as welcome news, as nuclear medicine departments in numerous regions have been grappling with shortages of Mo-99 and Tc-99m.
Some nuc med departments are already feeling the strain of the isotope shortage
"This can't drag on. Patients needing cancer treatment can’t wait two months for an accurate diagnosis.”
NorthStar opens facility to assist with development and distribution of vital radioisotopes
The facility will provide much needed developmental and manufacturing support for pharmaceutical companies that produce and distribute medical isotopes.

Consultant to concerned residents: N.J. radiopharmaceutical facility not a threat

Patrick McDermott, a Rutgers University scientist who specializes in ionized radiation, has said a radiopharmaceutical factory scheduled to open soon in Millburn, N.J., poses no health risks to the area. McDermott was hired back in October 2015 to assess the safety of the factory and reported his findings this week.

February 18, 2016

‘Mini-brains’ spare the research animals, spread the neuroscience

Johns Hopkins researchers have begun genetically modifying adult cells to create balls of neurons that may serve as “mini-brains,” potentially good for preclinically studying—in petri dishes rather than in animals—Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autism and the effects of drugs, for starters.

February 12, 2016

Amyloid PET with automated analysis excels at ruling out Alzheimer’s

When it comes to predicting the cognitive-impairment course Alzheimer’s disease will take in a mildly stricken patient, neither of two tracers commonly used with PET—18F-FDG (for assessing glucose metabolism) and 11C-PiB (for assessing amyloid deposits)—brings much to the table. And that’s so regardless of automated vs. visual analysis.

February 12, 2016

Siemens Healthcare Limited launches new assay range to improve workload consolidation in the laboratory

A range of new assays has been released by Siemens for use on ADVIA Centaur and IMMULITE XPi 2000 systems.Launch includes the first automated quantitative thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) assay used in the diagnosis of Graves’ disease.

February 11, 2016

Brain injuries may remain unhealed long enough to increase Alzheimer’s risk

Preliminary research at Imperial College London has shown that increased levels in binding of the Alzheimer’s-associated radioligand 11C-PiB—the go-to radioactive biochemical substance in PET imaging for cerebral amyloid beta plaque—also show up in people who have had traumatic brain injury, and for more than a decade after the TBI event. 

February 4, 2016

A New Potential Biomarker for Cancer Imaging

Selangor, Malaysia, Jan 29, 2016 - (ACN Newswire) - A biochemical compound developed as a radioactive tracer for cell proliferation shows increasing potential for use in cancer imaging, according to a recent paper published in the Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology. 

January 29, 2016

NIH to fund research on cancer busting imaging-biomarker combos

The NIH’s National Cancer Institute (NCI) is inviting researchers to apply for dollars to explore ways to harmonize imaging strategies with biomarker methodologies en route to creating an integrated system for cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis and care.

January 28, 2016

WMIS welcomes 2 new interest groups

The World Molecular Imaging Society (WMIS) has announced the addition of two new interest groups: Synthetic Biology and Reporter Genes and Molecular Imaging Nanotechnology and Theranostics. 

January 26, 2016

Molecular Imaging

Researchers receive grant worth millions to develop portable PET scanner

Why is the US still dependent on foreign medical isotope production?

Downed high-flux reactor could restart sooner than anticipated

Some nuc med departments are already feeling the strain of the isotope shortage

NorthStar opens facility to assist with development and distribution of vital radioisotopes