State-of-the-Art PET/CT Instrumentation Yale University PET Center The goal of this shared instrumentation proposal is to maintain and expand the capabilities of the Yale Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Center by the acquisition of a state-of-the-art PET/CT scanner for human research studies. PET imaging provides a non-invasive method to detect and examine biochemical processes and physiological functions in the living body. Through the use of specific radiolabeled molecules, state-of-the-art scanning equipment, and the techniques of tracer kinetic modeling, quantitative measurements of a wide range of physiological functions can be assessed in clinical and pre-clinical populations. PET has broad applications in the areas of oncology, cardiology, neurosciences, metabolic disorders, inflammation, and others. The goal of this proposal is to leverage the Yale PET Center?s expertise in radiochemistry and quantitative PET imaging by replacing an end-of- life PET-only System with a state-of-the-art PET/CT system for human research studies. We have chosen the proposed PET/CT system with exceptional time-of-flight capabilities, high sensitivity and resolution, and excellent performance in terms of quantitative accuracy and count rate performance. When these PET instrumentation characteristics are combined with a CT scanner with excellent axial sampling and high speed, the system can provide ideal characteristics for PET/CT research studies of Yale investigators. The need for state-of-the-art PET/CT is self-evident for oncology research which requires simultaneous anatomical localization of tracer uptake. The need for combined PET/CT is of even greater importance in research studies using novel radiopharmaceuticals. The interpretation of the spatial localization of a new tracer, where normal uptake patterns are unknown, cannot be performed without high resolution anatomical data. In addition, the proposed high-end PET/CT will be of even greater utility when sophisticated multimodality image analysis techniques are employed, including image-based measurement of tracer input function, and corrections for cardiac and respiratory motion artifacts. The proposed system will support over 25 NIH-funded investigators in the Departments of Cardiology, Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology, Neurology, Psychiatry, and Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, all of whom are currently conducting PET imaging research with NIH-funded grants. Many of these investigators have established track records of PET imaging and are expected to continue and expand their PET usage in the future. Further, the additional capabilities and capacity provided by the new system will support the development of PET imaging studies by new investigators. Enhanced utilization of novel radiopharmaceuticals and PET/CT imaging will lead to a better understanding of biochemical processes, which in turn will lead to the development of new, or improved treatments. Together, these applications hold tremendous potential in improving the health of the general public.
State-of-the-Art PET/CT Instrumentation Yale University PET Center This research project aims to provide state-of-the art imaging equipment for combined Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and CT research studies. PET/CT imaging is used to investigate and understand the biochemical and pathophysiological processes involved in neuropsychiatric disorders, cancers, metabolic diseases such as diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Addition of a new PET/CT system to replace an end-of-life PET-only system will allow us to leverage the Yale PET Center?s expertise in radiochemistry and quantitative PET imaging to support a wide range of clinical imaging research projects, which in turn will lead to the development of new disease treatments and new approaches for monitoring of disease progression and treatment outcomes.
