Speaker
Prof.
Roger LECOMTE
(Université de Sherbrooke)
Description
The growing field of molecular imaging has accelerated the introduction of novel
technologies and the development of new methodologies to investigate biologic
processes in living animals that can be used as models of human diseases. Because
of their unrivalled sensitivity, radiotracer-based imaging modalities such as Single
Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
enable the noninvasive investigation of biochemical and physiological processes in
vivo at the cellular and molecular levels without pharmacological side effects.
However, the importance of obtaining the anatomical context alongside with the
radioisotopic images is highlighted as new molecular probes capable of targeting
receptors and gene expression with high specificity in selected cells and tissues
are developed. In this overview, we will briefly review the most recent
developments in SPECT and PET imaging, as well as survey the new multi-modality
imaging methodologies being explored to provide more complete anatomical,
physiological and molecular information concurrently in small animals.
Author
Prof.
Roger LECOMTE
(Université de Sherbrooke)
