High-Performance PET/CT Instrumentation

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Project Summary / Abstract This proposal aims to upgrade the imaging capability of the Johns Hopkins Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Center with new high-performance, human-scale PET/CT instrumentation. PET is a non-invasive, molecular imaging technique that can be used to visualize and quantify functional processes in-vivo. A wide variety of biological processes and disease states can be studied by selection of an appropriate radiopharmaceutical. This flexibility and the scope for creating new radiopharmaceuticals to interrogate different targets means that the same scanner system can be used for a variety of research purposes. PET has made major contributions across many different fields including neuroscience, oncology, cardiology and others. The proposed new PET/CT instrument will be used exclusively for research and will replace two existing PET-only scanners that have reached their end-of-life. High spatial resolution, high sensitivity and outstanding time-of-flight capability, as well as in-line integration with x-ray CT mean the new scanner will greatly improve upon currently available technology. This enhanced technical performance will translate to higher image quality and quantitative parameters with greater accuracy and improved statistical reliability. The current proposal aims to take advantage of the existing infrastructure and environment at Johns Hopkins. The PET Center has well-equipped radiochemistry facilities and much experience in radiopharmaceutical development, PET imaging methodology and quantitative data analysis. There is also a large pool of NIH funded investigators who have struggled for some time with old, unreliable PET systems and limited access to PET/CT. Greater access and improved imaging capability will enhance the quality of data collection and accelerate accrual of large data sets. Furthermore, the new capabilities and flexibility of the proposed scanner will broaden the range of studies that are possible, encouraging new research applications and wider adoption of PET across the research community. This project will support and enhance NIH-funded research in neurosciences, oncology, cardiology and other areas including infection. The exquisite sensitivity of PET and its unique capability to target molecular processes in-vivo will drive advances in our understanding of disease. In addition, the quantitative capability of PET can help develop and assess new treatment options, providing objective evidence for treatment effectiveness at an early time point. As such the current proposal has the potential to advance translational research and contribute towards improved public health.