Development of Imaging Probes

Node DIP

Core-Team: Irena Pashkunova-Martic, Karsten Bamminger

Speaker: Irena Pashkunova-Martic
Deputy:  Karsten Bamminger

The node for the Development of Imaging Probes (DIP) aims to develop and optimize imaging probes (e.g. for PET, SPECT, MRI, CT, Ultrasound, and IVIS) and to establish a “one-stop-shop“ for researchers dealing with these molecular probes.

THE DIP NODE OFFERS SPECIFIC EXPERTISE IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: 

• Medicinal chemistry & radiochemistry for (pre-)clinical use
• Preclinical and (radio-)pharmacological testing
• Quantitative imaging aspects
• Mass spectrometry applications

The main research areas of this node are based on a close interaction with the respective research clusters and centers of the Medical University of Vienna as well as its departments and core facilities.

AT PRESENT, THE DIP NODE FOCUSES ON THE FOLLOWING TOPICS: 

• Development of improved & alternative contrast agents (CAs) for MRI & CT
  • Gd-, Mn- & F-based MRI CAs
  • I- and W-based CT CAs
• Theranostic agents 
• Development of novel PET tracers:
  • Molecular imaging biomarkers in oncology (e.g. Angiogenesis, Hypoxia, Proliferation) and cardiovascular disease (e.g. Atherosclerosis)
  • Radiolabeling (hot tracers: ¹⁸F, ⁶⁸Ga, and ¹¹C) of drugs and drug candidates
• Combined biomarkers for in-vivo hybrid techniques (e.g. PET/MR)
• Neuroimaging (e.g. central receptors, transporters and enzymes in neurotransmission; blood-brain-barrier penetration: tackling efflux transporters by inhalative drugs; neurodegenerative diseases)

The DIP node closely cooperates with the other nodes within this cluster, in particular with Preclinical Imaging, Quantitative Clinical Imaging and Image Guided Therapy & Theranostics. 

QUO VADIS – NODE VISION

Multimodal “one-stop shop” for imaging probes

• Alternative & eco-friendly contrast agents for MRI & CT
• State-of-the-art radiochemistry
• Nanostructures for multifold modalities
• Theranostic probes
• Labeling of large molecules (peptides, antibodies)

MEMBERS & COOPERATION PARTNERS

Main Topic 1: Novel contrast agents for MRI & CT

• Irena Pashkunova-Martic (Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Molecular and Structural Preclinical Imaging)
• Bernhard Keppler, Christian Kowol & Michael Malarek, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna
• Ian Teasdale, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, Johannes Kepler University Linz
• Juliana Ivanova, Faculty of Medicine, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgaria
• Hristo Varbanov, Institute of Pharmaceutcal Chemistry, Iniversity of Innsbruck
• Werner Lubitz CEO, BIRD-C GmbH

Main Topic 2: Theranostic Agents 

• Dietmar Georg, Universitätsklinik für Strahlentherapie
• Marcus Hacker, Universitätsklinik für Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin

Main Topic 3: Development of PET Tracers

3.1 Development of PARP-Inhibitor PET tracers:

Molecular Imaging Biomarkers in Oncology (e.g. angiogenesis, hypoxia, proliferation, DNA repair) and Cardiovascular Disease (e.g. atherosclerosis)

• Cooperation partners: Sazan Rasul (Nuklearmedizin), Gero Kramer (Urologie)

3.2 Development of bile acid PET tracers:

Pharmacokinetic imaging (radiolabelling of drugs and drug candidates)

• Corporation partners: Michael Trauner, Daniel Steinacher (Hepatologie)

Main Topic 4: Combined Biomarkers for In-Vivo Hybrid Techniques (e.g. PET/MR)

• Markus Mitterhauser, Universitätsklinik für Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin
• Siegfried Trattnig, Universitätsklinik für Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin
• Wolfgang Birkfellner, Zentrum für Medizinische Physik und Biomedizinische Technik

Main Topic 5: Neuroimaging

• Rupert Lanzenberger, Universitätsklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
• Markus Mitterhauser, Universitätsklinik für Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin
• Daniela Prayer, Universitätsklinik für Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin