Molecular and functional imaging as a pivotal tool for translational medicine in the field of neuroscience and oncology: a platform creating a bridge between basic research, clinical development and industrial application.

In contrast to commercial production centres of PET tracers where a large number of doses of a limited number of (non-specific) tracers is produced, state of the art PET research centres rather provide a large number of different specific tracers to be injected in a limited number of subjects. An experienced team and a state-of-the-art infrastructure ensures fast implementation of (a) experimental preclinical/clinical PET radiopharmaceuticals within the PET probe discovery programs of the PET centre research group, (b) experimental preclinical/clinical PET radiopharmaceuticals within the framework of PET probe discovery programs with partners in (radio)pharmaceutical industry, besides (c) established PET tracers used in preclinical/clinical research and (d) established PET radiotracers for routine diagnostic use in patients. Manufacturing of these PET radiopharmaceuticals must be performed under GMP conditions. The use of PET tracers in clinical studies requires expertise with respect to implementation of production and QC protocols, toxicity tests and drafting of investigational medicinal product dossiers (IMPD) and protocol and investigators brochures for Clinical Trial Authorisation application with both the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products and the local ethical committee. Cooperation with a clinical pharmacology unit and clinical departments is required for the selection and follow-up of study volunteers and selected patients. Advanced PET clinical research requires dedicated technical and nursing staff and instrumentation for the precise acquisition and determination of the measured physiological quantitative parameters (e.g. receptor occupancy, metabolism, ...). For this, arterial and venous input curves through frequent blood sampling, activity counting and metabolite quantification are needed for which expertise is present; know-how to measure and calculate human biodistribution and dosimetry data of new tracers is available and advanced kinetic modelling of new tracers is prerequisite. All this expertise is provided by the individual domain specialists and close collaboration in the 'golden triangle' of : (1) nuclear medicine physicians with thorough training in neuropsychiatric disorders and/or oncology, (2) the radiopharmacy team and (3) the image processing/modelling specialists.

Keywords:Neurology, Oncology

Disciplines:Laboratory medicine, Palliative care and end-of-life care, Regenerative medicine, Other basic sciences, Other health sciences, Nursing, Other paramedical sciences, Other translational sciences, Other medical and health sciences