Imperial GSK Positron Emission Tomography (PET): Technology and Application

1 - 3 April 2009

In collaboration with GSK 

Supported by:

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Introduction

Imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) have become important tools for the early detection of disease, the understanding of basic molecular aspects of living organisms and the evaluation of medical treatment. All techniques have unique applications, with advantages and limitations. PET is being used to examine the biological function of tracer doses of molecules in living sytems including humans. In particular there has been a rapid expansion in the application of PET imaging, not only in the individual clinical management of patients with cancers, heart disease, and neuropsyciatric disorders, but also in drug development and discovery

Recent advances in the labelling of many target specific agents and drug candidates have facilitated their use in PET imaging. The quantification in vivo using PET generated data is now producing crucial information on pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and drug interactions at targeted enzyme and receptor sites, thereby aiding critical decisions, which can lead to shortened times for clinical development and drug approval.

Some of the major fundamental work on the development of these techniques has been performed at Imperial College London and its current research strengths in Imaging Sciences are recognised internationally. This is exemplified by the creation of the Imaging Sciences Centre (ISC) – and a recent MRC discipline bridging award which is creating a multidisciplinary team involving chemists, immunologists, radiologists, image scientists, physicists, biomedical scientists and computer scientists and active collaborations with, for example, GlaxoSmithKline who are pioneering the use of PET in Drug Discovery and Development.

Course Objectives

The principal objects of this programme are to review the basic principles of PET imaging and to convey an understanding of the opportunities that PET technology offers in drug development. Specific issues to be addressed include:

• The production of PET radioisotopes.
• The chemistry of labelling compounds with short-lived positron-emitting radionuclides.
• The design of PET tracers - impact on interpretation of scanning data (e.g. position of labelling, metabolism, drugs vs. ligands).
• PET instrumentation - how does a PET scanner or a cyclotron work (physics)?
• How PET data is analysed (kinetic modelling, image analysis).
• How PET can be used as a tool in basic biomedical research, drug development and discovery, pharmacology, individual patient management, diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Course Structure

The 3-day programme will include a series of lectures on various aspects of PET imaging, interspersed with ‘break-out sessions’ and small group discussions on chosen topics covered within the program. These can be used to consolidate concepts covered in the lectures, to reinforce ideas or to go into greater detail on some of the topics at the forefront of modern PET-related research. As a result of requests from last years course, for those of you interested in visiting a PET facility, there will also be an opportunity to visit the GSK imaging Centre.

Seminars and discussion groups will be guided by specialist tutors from academia and industry. The selected tutors will be at the forefront of research and technology in the subject areas and will provide high quality teaching at the interface between knowledge and practice.

The small group sizes in the breakout sessions will facilitate group discussions and give excellent possibilities to learn more about the technology and application of PET. Pre-registration documents will be sent out to gain feedback into what sort of topics and informal group discussions that would be most useful to the participants.

Who Should Attend

The course is supported by both BBSRC and GlaxoSmithKline with the goal of conveying advances in this technique to all interested professionals. & nbsp; While currently there is a ra pid growth of interest in PET techniques, with enhanced industrial and government inve stment, t here is a skills shortag e in radiochemistry and cyclotron operations , which is likely to inhibit the anticipated wider deployment of PET techniques.

This course will be suitable both for professionals already within industry and the NHS (e.g. radiopharmacists, radiographe rs and medical physicists) who want to enhance their know ledge, increase their skill set and to mix with other industrialists and academics alike and build up networks of information and knowledge and also for those considering entering these areas. It will be particularly relevant to managers and researchers in the pharmaceutical industry, working with drug development – f rom biology to chemistry to clinical trials – and with an interest to learn more about PET.

Feedback from p revious delegates

Here is what some of our previous delegates have said about the course –

“It is a course that has a broad span and that anyone going into the PET field should take in order to understand the big picture – excellent course!”

“One of the best courses I have attended”

“An excellent course given by experts in the field. A good chance to gain lots of knowledge and network.”

“Excellent course for professionals who start research in PET or who will use PET for their research purposes.”

Interesting links

British Nuclear Medicine Society

Information  | Presenters | Programme  | General Information