Speaker
Paul Lecoq
(CERN)
Description
Since the discovery of X-Rays by Roentgen in 1895 physicists have played a
major role in the development of medical imaging instrumentation. More
recently the technological developments in several areas of applied physics,
the new generation of particle physics detectors and the development of an
information based society all combine to enhance the performance of
presently available imaging devices. This talk will explain the critical
parameters of modern medical imaging in the context of the spectacular
development of in-vivo molecular imaging, which will soon allow to bridge
post-genomics research activities with new diagnostics and therapeutic
strategies for major diseases. In particular the molecular profiling of tumours
and gene expression open the way to tailored therapies and therapeutic
monitoring of major diseases like cancer and degenerative and genetic
disorders. Moreover, the repeatability of non-invasive approaches allows an
evaluation of drug targeting and pharmacokinetics studies on small animals,
as well as a precise screening and follow-up treatment of patients. The
technical requirements on imaging devices are very challenging but are
rather similar in many respects to the ones of modern particle detectors on
highluminosity accelerators. Examples will be given of active technology
transfer areas from High Energy Physics detectors, which can significantly
improve the performance of future medical imaging devices. Special
emphasis will be put on the need for a globalisation of technology research
and development as modern instrumentation in a vast range of applications
has similar requirements and spin-off should be more and more understood
as cross-fertilization between different disciplines.
Author
Paul Lecoq
(CERN)
