β-eye scanner lifts Uppsala's PET environment to new heights

2023-10-24

The installation of a new β-eye scanner at Uppsala Science Park brings new opportunities to both research and clininc. "We are very grateful for Region Uppsala's support for this reinforcement, which will bring great value to our patients," states Gunnar Antoni, Head of Uppsala University Hospital's PET Center and Adjunct professor at Uppsala University.

(Image removed) Preclinical PET-MRI Platform, Uppsala Science Park

In September, the Preclinical PET-MRI Platform expanded its machine park with a β-eye scanner, an investment that significantly strengthens the facility's capacity to perform fast in vivo screenings of new PET tracer molecules.

“This investment gives us access to a high-tech instrument that streamlines the development and validation of new PET diagnostics, and also accelerates the implementation into clinical practice, so the benefits truly cover the full distance from basic research to the patient,” states Olof Eriksson, researcher at Uppsala University's Department of Medicinal chemistry.

(Image removed) Ola Åberg and Ram Kumar Selvaraju

The purchase is financed via Region Uppsala's ALF grant, with which the University Medical Board Executive Committee can support research with a clinical connection in a laboratory environment. This specific ALF grant is managed jointly by Olof Eriksson, Platform director Sergio Estrada and Gunnar Antoni, Head of the University Hospital's PET Center and main applicant:

“We are very grateful to the Region for making this investment possible that brings new opportunities to both research and clinic. From a healthcare perspective, a β-eye scanner within walking distance of the hospital area means, among many things, that we in the future can offer patients faster and safer diagnosis with new PET tracer molecules, which is valuable to both the individual and the region,” says Gunnar Antoni.

(Image removed) Veronika Wingstedt, Preclinical PET-MRI Platform

The instrument is already in operation at the Preclinical PET-MRI Platform, located in the MTC building at the heart of Uppsala Science Park. At the infrastructure, a nationally accessible facility – funded by the Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy with strategic contributions from KAW and SciLifeLab – the strengthening of the infrastructure machinery is met with open arms.

“The core of our operations is to bridge the gap between basic research and clinical application, and in addition to the β-eye scanner's technical performance, the process has further strengthened our linking position between university and hospital. We are currently reviewing strategies for more joint applications, which can in the foreseeable future lift Uppsala's PET operations to new heights,” says Sergio Estrada, Platform Director.

FACTS

The new β-eye scanner streamlines the development of new PET tracer molecules that are used in clinical diagnostics with positron emission tomography
The Preclinical PET-MRI Platform offers Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), Magnetic Resonance Tomography (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT), methods that are increasingly used in biomedical research.
Olof Eriksson research group in Translational PET imaging uses modern molecular imaging technology to expand our understanding of metabolic diseases and cancer.
Eriksson’s research group also develops new molecular imaging techniques and offers training in several aspects of radiopharmaceutical development.

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CONTACT

(Image removed) Olof Eriksson, University Lecturer
Dep. of Medicinal chemistry; Uppsala university
Olof.Eriksson@ilk.uu.se

(Image removed) Sergio Estrada, Director
PPP, Uppsala University
Sergio.Estrada@ilk.uu.se

(Image removed) Gunnar Antoni, Head of Dep./Adj. Professor
PET Center, UAS/Uppsala University
Gunnar.Antoni@ilk.uu.se

text: Magnus Alsne, photo: Mikael Wallerstedt