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Research

With its innovative Clinical Trials Network, influential annual meeting and high-impact journals, SNMMI encourages and facilitates research and science for the nuclear medicine and molecular imaging field. Learn more.

Clinical Trials Network

The Clinical Trials Network (CTN) provides tools and resources to promote faster, more cost-effective drug development and increase the availability and performance of molecular imaging radiopharmaceuticals for use in the clinic. Our Mission is to advance the use of molecular imaging agents in clinical trials through standardization of chemistry and imaging methodology. This includes using imaging radiopharmaceuticals during the course of drug development, as well as bringing new radiopharmaceuticals to regulatory approval. Programs developed over the past 5 years include a comprehensive registry of qualified imaging sites and radiopharmaceutical manufacturers, a robust scanner validation program, access to standardized imaging protocols and a very strong clinical research education curriculum.

LATEST NEWS

  • March 28, 2023 — Molecular Imaging Offers Insight Into Chemo-Brain
    A new literature review sheds light on how nuclear medicine brain imaging can help evaluate the biological changes that cause chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI), commonly known as chemo-brain. This information—published ahead-of-print in JNM—can help patients better understand the changes in their cognitive status during and after treatment.
  • March 27, 2023 — JNM Explores Potential Applications for ChatGPT in Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
    In a new JNM article, Irène Buvat, PhD, and Wolfgang Weber, MD, PhD, explore the potential for using AI chatbot ChatGPT in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging.
  • March 24, 2023 — PSMA PET Improves Decision Making for Prostate Cancer Treatment
    PSMA PET mapping of cancer recurrence in the prostate bed shows that current radiotherapy contouring guidelines—which determine the target areas for treatment—miss a significant number of lesions and may unnecessarily irradiate healthy tissues, according to a new study published ahead of print in JNM. Researchers are calling for redefinition of the guidelines to improve patient outcomes.
  • March 21, 2023 — New Compact and Low-Cost Lensless Radiomicroscope Developed for Nuclear Medicine Imaging
    A novel, palm-sized imaging modality that can visualize the distribution of medical radiopharmaceuticals with very fine resolution has been developed and successfully tested, according to research published in March JNM. Known as the lensless radiomicroscope, the instrument offers the same level of imaging performance as its closest imaging equivalent but comes with significantly larger field of view and costs less than $100.
  • March 20, 2023 — Update, Pluvicto Supply Shortage: How You Can Help
    Due to severe production issues, the supply of Pluvicto is not currently sufficient to meet patient need. Please act now!
  • March 16, 2023 — Novel PET Radiotracer Successfully Detects Multiple Cancers, Offers Potential for New Targeted Radionuclide Therapy
    A new radiotracer, Ga-68 FAP-2286, has been found to be more effective than the most commonly used nuclear medicine cancer imaging radiotracer, F-18 FDG, according to a study published in JNM. Ga-68 FAP-2286 detected 100 percent of primary tumors across multiple cancer types as compared to F-18 FDG, which identified only 80 percent. Ga-68 FAP-2286 was also more effective in detecting lymph node metastases and distant metastases.
  • March 8, 2023 — Pluvicto Supply Shortage Update: What SNMMI Is Doing
    A supply problem with Pluvicto, the radiopharmaceutical used to treat metastatic prostate cancer, has led to shortages resulting in a delay of 3 months or longer for new patients, which is having a profound negative impact on patient care.
  • March 6, 2023 — SNMMI Applauds Introduction of FIND Act of 2023: Legislation Will Ensure Patient Access to Innovative and Effective Diagnostic Imaging
    SNMMI, along with more than 80 stakeholder organizations, supports and applauds the introduction of H.R. 1199, the Facilitating Innovative Nuclear Diagnostic (FIND) Act of 2023. The legislation will ensure patient access to innovative and effective diagnostic imaging.

Preclinical Imaging

CMIIT’s mission is to engage the molecular imaging community and leverage the SNMMI infrastructure to advance the adoption of emerging molecular imaging technologies and probes in preclinical and clinical applications. One of the goals is to develop educational resources for a “translational researcher”. CMIIT will provide researchers with needed education and training on the “nuts and bolts” of translating and transitioning an agent or technique from pre-clinical research into the clinical practice such as tracer development, equipment, and funding.

The Nuclear Medicine Clinical Trial Group, LLC

Under the auspices of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, the Nuclear Medicine Clinical Trial Group(NMCTG) assists industry partners and academic investigators in managing clinical research activities.  Its goals include ensuring quality imaging is conducted in drug or diagnostic clinical trials and providing training for molecular imaging professionals performing clinical research. Many of the programs established under the Clinical Trials Network, such as its robust Education Program, provide support to the NMCTG to help carry out its mission.