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.

It is easy to create generics from conventional drugs, but not so for biologics, which involve active biological ingredients such as proteins that can be leveraged to treat cancer and a range of other diseases. Biosimilars, which mimic biologics as closely as possible, could be the next big thing in the U.S., but a hot debate has been pitched over what to name these drugs.

August 25, 2014

Varian to repurchase another 6 million shares of stock

Varian Medical Systems, makers of radiation oncology technology announced Aug. 18 that the company’s board of directors authorized an additional repurchase of six million shares of common stock until December 31, 2015.

August 25, 2014

Telik gets $1.5M for phase II pancreatic PET agent

A $1.5 million contract for the development of an investigative, monoclonal-antibody based PET radiotracer that can detect pancreatic cancer has been awarded to Telik, the Palo Alto-based pharmaceutical company announced today.

August 25, 2014

Optogenetics lights up neurons after stroke

A treatment for stroke involving optogenetics fires up neurons in the motor cortex by way of a beam of light. This treatment has been shown in preclinical research to improve movement and coordination after a stroke, say researchers at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif.

August 22, 2014

Nanomedicine: Cancer immunotherapy amplifies patients’ immune cells outside the body

An investigational cancer immunotherapy leverages the power of nanotube-polymer composites to create an environment where immune cells can be incubated and made significantly stronger outside the body and then injected back into the blood to blast off a stronger offense against cancer, Yale University announced Aug. 13.

August 22, 2014

Reassessing the standard: Radioiodine therapy for thyroid cancer

Radioiodine therapy has been around for a long time now as an effective treatment for thyroid cancer. However there may be some scenarios in which an alternative or combined treatment may be better suited, according to a review published Aug. 11 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

August 22, 2014

Plato's Cave pushes advanced visualization out of the dark

Plato's Cave, short for computer augmented virtual environment, is a 5D imaging masterpiece engineered by researchers at the Methodist Hospital in Houston that combines PET, MR and CT imaging on multiple screens, including a touch-screen table top, and the ability to use voice commands and game controllers to manipulate and fly-through medical images for better treatment planning.

August 20, 2014

Demystifying DNA repair could drive better gene therapies

An integral piece of the process that goes into the repair of DNA has been discovered by scientists at Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman, the institution announced Monday. This information could improve gene therapies for hereditary disease.

August 19, 2014

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