Dive into Imaging Science European Society for Molecular Imaging (ESMI)

GUEST: Kevin Brindle, Cambridge
In this episode we welcome the one and only Kevin Brindle from University of Cambridge.


During his long and illustrious career, Kevin pioneered hyperpolarized magnetic resonance spectroscopy as a method to map metabolic flux in cancer and other diseases, with implications for treatment response monitoring.


We explore how deuterium imaging and [18F]FDG PET can be used to track the metabolic changes that occur soon after stroke and during the recovery phase. We discuss the complementary information that these two techniques provide and whether they could be used to improve clinical outcomes.


Along the way, we learn how Kevin could have worked in structural biology or been a painter and decorator... and how he used to meet his wife-to-be in the cold room when he was a postdoc at Oxford.

Selected Publication: In vivo imaging of cerebral glucose metabolism informs on subacute to chronic post-stroke tissue status - A pilot study combining PET and deuterium metabolic imaging. Meerwaldt AE, Straathof M, Oosterveld W, van Heijningen CL, van Leent MM, Toner YC, Munitz J, Teunissen AJ, Daemen CC, van der Toorn A, van Vliet G, van Tilborg GA, De Feyter HM, de Graaf RA, Hol EM, Mulder WJ, Dijkhuizen RM. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2023 May;43(5):778-790. doi: 10.1177/0271678X221148970. Epub 2023 Jan 6.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0271678X221148970

Further information on the European Society for Molecular Imaging:
https://e-smi.eu/
Contact: office@e-smi.eu 

GUEST: Mikhail Shapiro, Pasadena
In this episode we welcome our famous guest Mikhail Shapiro from Caltech. Mikhail exquisitely combines ultrasound with synthetic biology for gene regulation, imaging, and therapy - and Synthetic biology is surely the common thread in this podcast edition.
We discover how an engineered receptor and an intracellular signalling domain, known as ‘synNotch’ can be used to visualise cell-cell communication in vivo. And how this system can be used to identify immune-cancer cell interactions, why it provides far more information than just knowing where the immune cells reside, and the various merits of the three different reporter genes employed for visualisation across scales.
We also reveal some insider information into the review process for the selected paper from the senior author John Ronald. Along the way, we speculate why the synNotch system improves NK cell kill and Tim ends up dreaming of sheep jumping over logic gates!

Selected Publication: Visualizing cell–cell communication using synthetic notch activated MRI. TianDuo Wang, Yuanxin Chen, Nivin N Nystrom, Shirley Liu, Yanghao Fu, Francisco M Martinez, Timothy J Scholl, and John A Ronald. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 Mar 14; 120(11):e2216901120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2216901120.
https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2216901120

Further information on the European Society for Molecular Imaging:
https://e-smi.eu/
Contact: office@e-smi.eu

GUEST: Jason Lewis, New York
In this episode we discuss and learn about new PSMA-binding ligands with 161Tb, their biodistribution, dosimetry, preclinical therapy, and their comparison with conventional PSMA ligands. Our guest is one of the leading scientists in radiochemistry for cancer detection and therapy, the wonderful Jason Lewis. 
We talk about the importance of using 161Tb - this novel radionuclide for radioligand therapy - and its favorable decay characteristics as compared to 177Lu. We learn about the added value of the emission of Auger electrons which can effectively eliminate micro-metastasis and when combined with ibuprofen-based PSMA ligands offering albumin-binding properties, tumor uptake and therapeutic efficacy are significantly boosted. 
Besides this fascinating science, don't miss some very important advice from a very successful scientist in a very competitive environment about work-life balance, prioritising expectations and goals - just never forget to "smell the roses"…

Selected Publication: Albumin-Binding and Conventional PSMA Ligands in Combination with 161Tb: Biodistribution, Dosimetry, and Preclinical Therapy. Viviane J. Tschan, Sarah D. Busslinger, Peter Bernhardt, Pascal V. Grundler, Jan Rijn Zeevaart, Ulli Köster, Nicholas P. van der Meulen, Roger Schibli, Cristina Müller. Journal of Nuclear Medicine Jul 2023, jnumed.123.265524; DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.123.265524
https://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/early/2023/07/13/jnumed.123.265524

Further information on the European Society for Molecular Imaging:
https://e-smi.eu/
Contact: office@e-smi.eu

GUEST: Annemie Van Der Linden, Antwerp
In this edition of ‘Dive into Imaging Science’ we discuss the brain and the mechanisms that it employs to clear unwanted waste material whilst we sleep with our former ESMI President and Emeritus Professor Annemie Van Der Linden - an outstanding figure and incomparable scientist.
We learn how closely coupled this system - known as the glymphatics - is to blood circulation, and how physical stimulation can enhance glymphatic flow in anaesthetised but not awake mice. Along the way, we learn how curiosity and a wondering mind has led Annemie to use a wide range of models to study the brain, from fish to song birds.

Selected Publication: Glymphatic influx and clearance are accelerated by neurovascular coupling. Holstein-Rønsbo S, Gan Y, Giannetto MJ, Rasmussen MK, Sigurdsson B, Beinlich FRM, Rose L, Untiet V, Hablitz LM, Kelley DH, Nedergaard M. Nat Neurosci. 2023 Jun;26(6):1042-1053. doi: 10.1038/s41593-023-01327-2.

Publication reference: Holstein-Rønsbo S, Gan Y, Giannetto MJ, Rasmussen MK, Sigurdsson B, Beinlich FRM, Rose L, Untiet V, Hablitz LM, Kelley DH, Nedergaard M. Glymphatic influx and clearance are accelerated by neurovascular coupling. Nat Neurosci. 2023 Jun;26(6):1042-1053. doi: 10.1038/s41593-023-01327-2. Epub 2023 Jun 1. PMID: 37264158. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-023-01327-2

Further information on the European Society for Molecular Imaging:
https://e-smi.eu/
Contact: office@e-smi.eu

GUEST: Elisabeth de Vries, Groningen
In this episode we talk about nectin-4 - an emerging biomarker for cancer diagnosis and therapy - with one of the most influential and distinguished scientists in medical oncology, Elisabeth de Vries.
We talk about the first-in-human study of a radioligand that can target nectin-4 and learn what medical oncologists need to get out from imaging data so that these powerful tools continue to make an impact on patient outcomes.
We learn about the importance and best practices for robust clinical trials and the hurdles to both design and finance them.
Along the way, we get a glimpse into Elisabeth’s career path and how her research combines nuclear with optical imaging modalities as methods to improve patient diagnosis and treatment.

Selected Publication: "First-in-human study of the radioligand 68Ga-N188 targeting nectin-4 for PET/CT imaging of advanced urothelial carcinoma" published in Clinical Cancer research by the authors X. Duan, L. Xia, Z. Zhang, Y. Ren, M. G. Pomper, S. P. Rowe, X. Li, N. Li, N. Zhang, H. Zhu 6, Z. Yang, X. Sheng, X. Yang  (groups from Beijing University and Johns Hopkins University Baltimore).

Publication reference: Xiaojiang Duan, Lei Xia, Zhuochen Zhang, Yanan Ren, Martin G Pomper, Steven P Rowe, Xuesong Li, Nan Li, Ning Zhang, Hua Zhu 6, Zhi Yang, Xinan Sheng, Xing Yang. First-in-human study of the radioligand 68Ga-N188 targeting nectin-4 for PET/CT imaging of advanced urothelial carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2023 Apr 24;CCR-23-0609. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-23-0609. https://aacrjournals.org/clincancerres/article-abstract/doi/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-23-0609/726342/First-in-Human-Study-of-the-Radioligand-68Ga-N188

Further information on the European Society for Molecular Imaging:
https://e-smi.eu/
Contact: office@e-smi.eu

GUEST: Bernd Pichler, Tübingen
In this episode we learn how a new lensless microscope, costing just $100 (!), can be used to evaluate radiotracer retention in cells, and discuss potential applications for this revolutionary new technology with our famous guest Bernd Pichler. We discuss how this, and other technologies, could be used to assess the heterogeneous cell populations of the tumour microenvironment and identify cell senescence using new radiotracers developed in Bernd’s lab.

Selected Publication: "Development of a Lensless Radiomicroscope for Cellular-Resolution Radionuclide Imaging" published in Journal of Nuclear Medicine by the authors Justin S. Klein, Tae Jin Kim and Guillem Pratx (Physical Oncology Lab at Stanford  Medicine).

Publication reference: Justin S. Klein, Tae Jin Kim and Guillem Pratx. Development of a Lensless Radiomicroscope for Cellular-Resolution Radionuclide Imaging. J Nucl Med 2023 Mar; 64(3):479-484. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.122.264021. Epub 2022 Sep 15.
https://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/64/3/479

Further information on the European Society for Molecular Imaging:
https://e-smi.eu/
Contact: office@e-smi.eu