Inaugural Lecture of TUM-IAS Fellow Prof. Silvio Aime: MRI & Molecular Imaging: what's good for clinical translation?

Prof. Silvio Aime Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino TUM Institute for Advanced Study, Hans Fischer Senior Fellow Date: Monday, March 18, 2013 Time: 17:15 Location: Klinikum rechts der Isar, Hörsaal-Pavillon, Ismaninger Straße 22

MRI & Molecular Imaging: what's good for clinical translation?

The possibility of exploiting the superb anatomical resolution of MRI continues to make this modality highly desirable for Molecular Imaging applications in spite of the low sensitivity of the currently available contrast agents. In the case of metal-based systems, the huge number of contrast agent units necessary to visualize a single cell by MRI (e.g. 10^7-10^9 Gd3+ ions) discourages any attempt to go for a clinical translation when the Imaging probes have to report on molecules or molecular events in the intracellular compartment. Thus the vasculature and the extracellular matrix appear the domains for targeting and responsive, metal-based contrast agents. Probes for pH mapping, fibrin and collagen targeting, protease activity, etc. are good candidates for clinical translation to complement the functional information gained by DCE-MRI experiments. Conversely, hyperpolarized molecules have the potential for being a real breakthrough as diagnostic agents reporting on cellular metabolism and transport across cellular membranes. Finally MRI probes may be excellent companions with PET/SPECT tracers for innovative Molecular Imaging applications with emerging hybrid imaging modalities.