A PET-CT Scanner for Translational Research

描述(由申请者提供)：本申请申请购买一个集成正电子发射和X射线计算机断层扫描(PET-CT)成像系统，用于范德比尔特大学众多涉及人类受试者或大型动物的资助研究。PET成像是可用于非侵入性、转化性人体研究的主要分子成像方法。由于其高灵敏度和广泛的生物相关放射性示踪剂的可用性，PET可用于检测和诊断癌症、评估肿瘤的特定细胞和分子特征、量化脑神经化学和新陈代谢、研究新药物的分布和效果，以及在各种重要的临床应用中报道多种细胞和分子成像生物标志物。在大脑中，PET是唯一能够评估神经精神病学应用中的神经递质水平、占位和运输的能力，是评估新药和干预措施的关键工具。在癌症中，PET是作为肿瘤表型、治疗反应和在分子水平上表征新型靶向治疗效果的生物标记物的主要手段。PET的使用和应用依赖于合适的放射性核素的可用性，这些放射性核素被19F和11C等发射正电子的原子标记。范德比尔特拥有完善的PET中心和回旋加速器，以及广泛的放射化学实验室和人员，但唯一可靠地用于研究的PET扫描仪是无法容纳人或大型动物的微型PET。所要求的仪器将满足领先医学中心对人类和大型动物进行PET研究的广泛需求。此外，由于所有现代正电子发射计算机断层扫描仪也采用CT进行联合登记，拟议的仪器也将提供研究CT研究的途径。虽然我们有专门用于小动物的CT扫描仪，但我们没有用于人类受试者的研究CT能力，而且在我们的临床系统中，法律不允许对大型动物进行成像。PET-CT扫描仪将提供新类型的信息，这些信息将补充和加强NIH资助的众多项目、孢子和中心正在进行的研究，并将成为多名研究人员的独特资源。范德比尔特放射化学中心在生产一系列化合物方面经验丰富，这些化合物将用于研究肿瘤新陈代谢、缺氧和增殖、特定细胞受体和蛋白质以及各种神经受体、转运体和调节剂的表达水平。CT的几个应用集中在图像引导干预的发展上。该系统将设在一个专门的成像科学研究所内并加以管理，该研究所在为调查人员提供和操作主要核心共享研究资源方面经验丰富，并将由一个专家工作人员和用户小组提供支持。已经制定了资源行政和财务管理的综合计划。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application requests funds to purchase an integrated Positron Emission and X-ray Computed Tomography (PET-CT) Imaging system for use in numerous funded research studies involving human subjects or large animals at Vanderbilt University. PET imaging is the primary molecular imaging method available for non-invasive, translational human studies. Because of its high sensitivity and the availability of a wide range of biologically relevant radiotracers, PET can be used (amongst others) to detect and diagnose cancer, to assess specific cellular and molecular characteristics of tumors, to quantify brain neurochemistry and metabolism, to study the distributions and effects of novel pharmaceuticals, and to report on multiple cellular and molecular imaging biomarkers in a variety of important clinical applications. In the brain PET is uniquely capable of assessing neurotransmitter levels, occupancies and transport in neuropsychiatric applications, and is a crucial tool in the evaluation of novel drugs and interventions. In cancer, PET is a primary modality for use as a biomarker of tumor phenotype, treatment response and for characterizing the effects of novel targeted treatments at a molecular level. The uses and applications of PET rely on the availability of suitable radionuclides that are labeled with positron-emitting atoms such as 19F and 11C. Vanderbilt has a well- established PET Center and cyclotron, along with extensive radiochemistry laboratories and personnel, but the only PET scanner reliably available for research studies is a microPET that cannot accommodate people or large animals. The requested instrument would meet the extensive demand for research PET studies of humans and large animals in a leading medical center. Moreover, as all modern PET scanners also incorporate CT for co-registration, the proposed instrument would also provide access for research CT studies as well. Although we possess dedicated CT scanners for small animals, we have no research CT capability for human subjects and imaging of large animals is not allowed by law on our clinical systems. The PET-CT scanner would provide new types of information that will complement and enhance the ongoing research of numerous NIH-funded projects, SPORES and Centers, and would be a unique resource for multiple investigators. The Radiochemistry Center at Vanderbilt is experienced in producing an array of compounds that will be used to study tumor metabolism, hypoxia and proliferation, the expression levels of specific cell receptors and proteins, and various neuroreceptors, transporters and modulators. Several of the CT applications are focused on the development of image-guided interventions. The system will be housed and managed in a dedicated Institute of Imaging Science that is experienced in providing and operating major core shared research resources for investigators, and will be supported by an expert staff and user group. A comprehensive plan for Administration and Financial Management of the resource has been developed.