Molecular Imaging Program

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has awarded MU a $10 million grant to create the Center for Single Photon-Emitting Cancer Imaging Agents. The award will allow researchers at MU and the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital to lead the nation in new, innovative methods of cancer detection and treatment. Funds are available for 4 undergraduate interns to work with faculty members each academic year and summer. In addition to a stipend ($2000 for the academic year; $2800 for the summer), Molecular Imaging Interns will also receive a scholarship to cover tuition for up to three hours of research credit during the fall, winter and/or summer semesters, for up to six total credit hours.

University researchers from various fields work collaboratively to develop new cancer detection methods and treatments. The unique capabilities of the MU Research Reactor, along with outstanding faculty researchers, has given MU a reputation as a center for research in radiopharmaceuticals, which are radioactive drugs that help doctors detect, diagnose, and treat diseases. Faculty mentors will come from the School of Medicine, Truman Veterans Hospital, Arts & Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Nuclear Science, Engineering, and the MU Nuclear Research Reactor.

Projects are primarily focused on identification of single-photon emitting, site-directed in vivo targeting biomolecular-conjugates directed to cell surface receptors, antigens and angiogenesis markers with high specificity. Many of the bioconjugates developed are designed to allow corresponding analogues labled with particle-emitting radionuclides to be produced for potential radiotherapeutic applications. Molecular biology and biochemical techniques form the primary approach for the design and generation of new cancer targeting vectors.

Faculty participating in the Molecular Imaging program are listed
below. Students with questions are encouraged to contact Dr. Susan Lever at LeverS@missouri.edu, 309 Chemistry, 882-8395.

• Susan Deutscher, Biochemistry
  Phage Display for Prostate, Breast,and Ovarian Tumor Imaging Agents
• Leonard Forte, Medicinal Pharmacology and Physiology
  Site Specific Targeting: Receptor Like Protein Expression on Human Cancer Cells
• Timothy J. Hoffman, Internal Medicine
  Molecular imaging of small rodents
• Silvia Jurisson, Chemistry
  Utilization of gamma and beta emitting radiometals in the development of potential diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals
• John Lever, Radiology
  Opioid Receptors and Ligands: Novel Markers for Cancer Imaging
• Michael Lewis, Veterinary Medicine and Surgery
  Development of New Peptidepeptide Nuclei Acid Conjugates: For Imaging of bcl-XL
• Thomas Quinn, Biochemistry
  Imaging Malignant Melanoma with Radiolabeled Alpha-MSH Peptide Analogs