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The Centre for PET has a major focus on academic research, as evidenced by its peer-reviewed grant track record, and publication record. The principal areas of research are in neurosciences (stroke, psychiatry), oncology and basic biology / biochemistry. The links with Melbourne University and the Ludwig Institute have facilitated strong translational research in in-vitro and in-vivo models prior to human studies.
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Our PET research has gained international recognition in ligand chemistry, as well as in H215O water activation studies and the physics methodology associated with these studies.
As part of the clinical evaluation of PET, the Centre for PET has participated with the Institute for Clinical PET (ICP) in clinical research protocols. The Centre was the major contributor in a prospective, multicentre study of 18F-FDG in the detection of recurrent colorectal carcinoma, which recruited patients over an 18 month period in the US and Australia (Austin Hospital).
Small animal PET imaging
We are performing imaging studies with our state of the art PET/CT scanner using a wide variety of tracers and animal models.
New imaging agents for hypoxia
We are currently evaluating new tracers for the imaging of hypoxic tissue in tumors and in a rat stroke model. After middle cerebral artery occlusion and injection of the radiotracer rats are kept anaesthetized for 2 hours and scanned in LIST mode. Results are compared to the current gold standard FMISO.
Tumor bearing mice are anaesthetized 1 hour after tracer injection and scanned for 30 minutes in LIST mode. Images are again compared with FMISO as the current gold standard.
C-11 AG1478
The epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor AG1478 has been radiolabelled with carbon-11 at our Centre. Imaging studies using this compound as a radiotracer for EGF receptor expression are currently performed on A431 and SW1222 tumor bearing mice.
Tumour metabolism
We are also performing F-18 FDG and F-18 FLT studies in animal models to examine the effects of novel biologics on the glucose metabolism and proliferation of cancer cells in-vivo. Tumour models under study include colorectal, lung and breast cancer, renal cancer and prostate cancer, and glioma.
Direct measurement of intra-tumoral pO2 values are also being performed in our hypoxia and therapeutic monitoring studies, in order to establish the biologic sequelae of anti-angiogenic therapy.
New therapeutics
As part of preclinical characterisation of the intracellular trafficking of recombinant antibodies, and biodistribution properties of novel biologics, we are performing PET studies with I-124 labelled humanised monoclonal antibodies. These studies provide unique information on the temporal and spatial distribution of antibodies and fusion proteins in-vivo, and allow non-invasive dosimetry to be performed of normal tissue and tumour.
A key element to our studies is the use of CT scans in conjunction with PET imaging, which can provide detailed anatomical detail of sites of metabolic change identified on PET scanning.
Our experimental studies combine PET quantitative measurements of tumour metabolism with detailed protein profiles and gene arrays, in order to compare in-vivo analyses with proteomic and genetic characteristics of tumours.
Teaching, Training and Research
The Centre for PET has collaborations with a number of local and international groups, including:
- Melbourne University
- LaTrobe University
- University of Sydney
- Mental Health Research Institute
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
- Howard Florey Institute
- Hammersmith Hospital (UK)
- Montreal Neurological Institute (Canada)
- SHFJ PET Centre, Orsay (France)
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (USA)
- Gumma University (Japan)
- Shanghai University (China)
There are exchanges of students, research collaborations, and visits by Centre for PET staff to these institutions, on a regular basis.
There is a major emphasis on teaching and training in the Centre for PET, with regular visits by overseas physicians and scientists for up to 6 month periods. The Centre for PET is also involved with IAEA training programs.
There have been 3 PhD students successfully complete their degrees within the Centre for PET. There are currently 6 PhD students and 2 MD students undertaking their doctoral degrees within the Centre for PET on PET related research.
