microPET: Positron Emission Tomography Imaging For Small Animals

Department of Nuclear Medicine has recently installed a high resolution dedicated positron emission tomography scanner for studying small animal models of human diseases (microPET). We welcome the researchers at UB and its affiliated institutes to use this state-of-the-art research tool in their research. Department would ensure delivery of radiotracers and provide necessary expertise and support for any collaborative research involving microPET. Department operates a cyclotron, a radiochemistry laboratory, a radiopharmacy and a medical physics division. In addition to the routinely used short-lived tracers, like F-18, C-11, N-13, 0-15, department has recently installed systems to synthesize long-lived positron emitter, I-124. This will enable to develop and characterize novel molecular imaging probes with longer biological half-lives. Please contact us or consult the procedures if you are interested in using microPET in research.

microPET APPLICATIONS

microPET offers the unique opportunity to image small animal models of diseases, including genetically engineered animals. It is a functional imaging modality at molecular level and provides valuable insights into biochemical, physiological, pathological or pharmacological process in vivo. Data can be obtained noninvasively, repeatedly, and quantitatively in the same animal. Current applications include a diverse field including perfusion, metabolism and substrate utilization in various vital organs including heart and brain, gene expression and stem cell tracking, neurotransmitter and receptors, neural activation and plasticity, targeting tumor antigens and elucidating tumor biology such as angiogenesis, hypoxia and apoptosis. Recent research efforts find its application in a wide area ranging from basic insights into the normal physiology and disease processes to drug development and early response to anticancer and gene therapy. Research can also be conducted in the field of imaging physics and scanner development, image and data analysis, attenuation correction and reconstruction techniques, and tracer kinetics and modeling. Several links to current microPET research are available (see the document microPET: Positron Emission Tomography Imaging for Small Animals)