Hot and Fast: Radiochemistry with Isotopes for Medicine

The ability to visualize the functional status of a physiological system in a living being is a powerful tool in the diagnosis, staging and treatment of a myriad of diseases. So called, molecular imaging (MI) embodies a number of imaging methods that enable clinicians to do just that - visualize and understand disease at the molecular level. An increasingly powerful modality for MI couples radioactive atoms (i.e., medical isotopes) with biologically active molecules.  Historically, MI with nuclear techniques has relied on perfusion-based distribution and imaging studies; however, a growing number of targeted radiopharmaceuticals are finding their way into the clinical setting. Targeted imaging relies on the ability to incorporate radioactive atoms onto biologically specific targeting ligands, which shuttle the signal-generating radionuclide to the tissue of interest, creating sufficient contrast to produce useful medical images. This presentation will discuss new techniques that are making core technologies associated with MI more efficient, allowing chemists to work alongside biologists and clinicians to rapidly label and screen radiopharmaceuticals for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson's, inflammation, cancer, and mental health. Some of the newer radiopharmaceuticals in or close to clinical trials will also be presented.