An important component of the Emory Molecular and Translational Imaging Center (EMTIC) is theestablishment of a strong pilot program to foster the continued growth of cancer-targeted molecularimaging research at Emory by bringing new investigators into EMTIC. Through the availability ofDevelopmental Funds for Pilot Projects supported at the level of $35,000/year per pilot project,EMTIC will foster a steady source of new ideas, applications areas for new methodologies developedwithin the Cores, and opportunities for both trainees and established scientists to acquire preliminarydata in the quantitative molecular imaging arena on which to base competitive future R01 proposals.Five outstanding pilot projects were selected following the solicitation of pilot proposals from allfaculty affiliated with the Winship Cancer Institute (WCI) and those in the Departments of Radiologyat Emory University and/or Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech.The Pilot Projects were chosen using the following review criteria: 1) scientific strengths, includinglikelihood to lead to R01 funding, 2} 'fit' with the developing EMTIC vision, 3) was it potentiallytranslational with a benefit to cancer patients, and 4) integration with institutional linkages and WCIprograms. The Pilot Projects include: Pilot Project 1. Receptor-targeted Radiotracers for Detection ofPancreatic Cancer; Pilot Project 2. Optical Dissection of a Lung Cancer Tumor Suppressor; PilotProject 3. Imaging Tumor HIF-1 Activity in a Rat Orthotopic Brain Tumor Model by MRI; Pilot Project4, Identifying IFN-alpha-lnduced Microglial Activation Using C-11 PK11195 versus F-18 PK11195 inRhesus Monkeys; and Pilot Project 5. Targeted 'Triggerable' Nanoscale Contrast Enhanced ConeBeam Computed Tomography (CBCT) for Early Breast Cancer Detection. The Pilot Projects arehighly integrated with both EMTIC Research Projects and Cores to benefit and contribute to theoverall mission of this center grant.
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