A Dedicated PET Scanner for Imaging Gene Expression in Mice

41235 November 21, 1996 CTI, Inc. The ability to image and quantify gene expression in vivo would create an important and powerful new tool for modern biology. Several techniques for imaging gene expression using positron emission tomography (PET) are being actively pursued and the preliminary data is very encouraging. All approaches are currently limited by the instrumentation available for PET - bulky and expensive scanners designed for clinical work with insufficient sensitivity or resolution for small animal studies. This project will develop a new high resolution detector suitable for use in a dedicated small animal PET scanner. The detector is designed to provide high spatial resolution and high efficiency, at a price compatible with low cost animal PET systems. In Phase I, two detector units will be designed, fabricated and tested. In Phase II, a complete small animal PET system will be developed, assembled and evaluated for gene imaging applications with PET. Commercial Applications ans Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The work should lead to a high sensitivity, high resolution, low cost imaging system suitable for use in molecular biology laboratories.