UTGSM The Scope E-Newsletter October 2011 Preclinical Imaging Team Succeeds at International Imaging Congress

Researchers in the Preclinical Diagnostic and Molecular Imaging Laboratory (PDMIL), directed by Jonathan Wall, PhD, were awarded two Image of the Year awards for the second consecutive year in the eighth annual Siemens Healthcare "New Point of View" Preclinical Image of the Year awards competition at the 2011 World Molecular Imaging Congress (WMIC). Researchers were encouraged to submit images created using any type of radiopharmaceutical tracer or any other contrast material. Entries were judged on scientific merit, the type of information gleaned from the images, and overall image quality. All images were judged by a panel of independent industry experts.

PDMIL investigations for both award-winning images pertain to the development of a novel agent for imaging visceral amyloid deposits in patients with amyloidosis and type II diabetes. Currently no such capability exists in the US. However, this team has identified a peptide, p5, that demonstrates avid and specific binding to visceral amyloid deposits.

Inveon Image of the Year

PDMIL researchers received the Inveon Image of the Year award for images taken during an evaluation of the biodistribution of the amyloid imaging peptide p5 radiolabeled with I-124 using PET/CT imaging. Their data from this study indicates that p5 radiolabeled with I-124 may be imaged many hours post injection, which is a desirable property for a visceral amyloid PET imaging agent.

Investigators with Dr. Wall include Tina Richey, Emily Martin, Alan Stuckey and Stephen Kennel, PhD.

Translational Image of the Year

PDMIL researchers received the Translational Image of the Year award for images taken during an investigation of the biodistribution of the amyloid imaging peptide p5 radiolabeled with [18F]FBAM, Tc-99m or I-125 while also assessing the background signal. As a result of their investigation, they anticipate using p5 radiolabeled with I-124 and I-123 for clinical PET or SPECT imaging of patients, respectively.

Investigators with Dr. Wall include Tina Richey, Emily Martin, Murthy Akula, PhD, Alan Stuckey, and Stephen Kennel, PhD.

Emily Martin Recognized for Imaging Research

UTGSM Emily Martin Also at WMIC, a poster presentation by Emily Martin, Graduate Research Assistant, was selected as a finalist in the Poster Session Walk-Through in the category of PET/SPECT Probes. As a finalist, she gave a brief presentation of her research, "Stable and Rapid Binding of 124I-labeled Peptide p5 to Visceral Amyloid in vivo as Evidenced by Dynamic PET Imaging," to judges and well-known experts in the field, Michael Phelps, PhD, and Bernd Pichler, PhD.

Martin said, "I got to speak with two well-known men in the field, which was an honor in itself. It was my first time getting to present the findings from our research. I love being a part of the research that we do here, but getting the chance to talk about it was priceless. I can only hope for more opportunities like that to come my way in the years ahead."