Doctoral and post doctoral research
The activities of the laboratory of Radiopharmacy are centered around
- Radiochemistry
- Radioanalytical Chemistry
- Radiopharmacy
Research topics
Our lab features extensive knowledge and expertise on a wide array of validated radiopharmaceuticals for brain imaging ([11C]DASB, [11C]Raclopride, [18F]Altanserin and [18F]MPPF). These PET-tracers can be employed to study brain related diseases such as depression or to develop and evaluate new possible therapies. Current research combines Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) therapy in preclinical and clinical setting to investigate the underlying neurological working mechanism in the treatment of therapy resistant depression (TRD).
Pharm. Nick Van Laeken
Glenn Pauwelyn
PhD student
Labo Radiofarmacie
Ottergemsesteenweg 460
9000 Gent
Belgium
+32 (0)92648065
Drug Research
As numerous drugs can inhibit hepatic transporters, which can lead to toxic concentrations of bile acids in blood or liver, causing drug-induced liver injury, our laboratory tries to assess the inhibition of hepatic transporters in an early stage. To assess these interactions in a non-invasive manner, the laboratory of Radiopharmacy develops and evaluatesnew technetium labeled bile acid analogues in vivo by means of µSPECT imaging
This research focusses on the synthesis and radiolabeling (18F) of new amino acid PET tracers. The compounds are evaluated in vitro by means of uptake, inhibition and affinity assays and are compared to the golden standard tracers [18F]FDG and [18F]FET . The potential of the different tracers to discriminate between low and high grade glioma is determined using preclinical tumor models and kinetic modelling.
Jeroen Verhoeven
PhD student
Labo Radiofarmacie
Ottergemsesteenweg 460
9000 Gent
Belgium
+32 (0)92648065
Drug-Induced Liver Injury (DILI) is an acquired liver disorder responsible for a significant amount of hospitalizations. Furthermore, it is one of the lead causes of rejecting a new drug during the drug development process. DILI can be caused by interference of drugs with the bile acid transporters located on the hepatocyte. This results in disturbed hepatobiliary transport of bile acids and hepatotoxicity (drug-induced cholestasis). Therefore, it is important to monitor this toxicity early on in drug development. It was hypothesized that the nuclear imaging technique Positron Emission Tomography (PET) can detect disturbed hepatobiliary transport, using a 18F radiolabeled bile acid tracer. Consequently, interference with the bile acid transporters can be detected before liver damage is done. By obtaining this information earlier and more efficiently, costs for preclinical drug development can be reduced significantly.
PhD student Stef De Lombaerde
Labo Radiofarmacie
Ottergemsesteenweg 460
9000 Gent
Belgium
+32 (0)92648065
Research in the last decade has shown that glutamine plays a critical role in the development and growth of all kinds of tumours. Therefore increasing efforts are done in the development of ligands against the Alanine Serine Cysteine transporter-2, one of the main transporters of glutamine, as a possible therapy or diagnosis tool for cancer. This project focusses on the development of new PET-tracers that visualise the ASCT-2 transporter. In a first stage we develop several inhibitors and substrates of ASCT-2 and try to label them with short living PET isotopes (e.g. 18F or 11C). Next the developed tracers are tested in prostate cancer cell lines for their affinity and selectivity. In the final stage we retain the most promising tracers and test their imaging potential in a mouse-model and define their in vivo characteristics (e.g. biodistribution, tumour/background ratio, metabolisation).
Tristan Baguet
PhD student
Labo Radiofarmacie
Ottergemsesteenweg 460
9000 Gent
Belgium
+32 (0)92648065
Oncology
Validated and universal procedures are in place for labeling both new and well established amino-acids, antibodies and peptides for pharmacokinetics/biodistribution studies (99mTc,123I, 125I, 131I, 111In), SPECT/µSPECT imaging (99mTc, 123I, 131I, 111In), PET/µPET imaging (11C, 13N, 76Br, 18F) and radioimmunotherapy (131I).
dr. Caroline Dumolyn
PhD student Tristan Baguet
PhD studentJeroen Verhoeven
Radioanalytical development
Aside from our research program, the laboratory of Radiopharmacy offers a broad selection of Radioanalytical techniques and test such as the assessment of total radioactivity, radionuclidic purity, (radio)chemical purity, specific activity, toxicity, conjugate stability, substitution ratio, antibody integrity, immunoreactivity, biological activity, preclinical in vivo behaviour, sterility, pyrogen content and sterility.
Finally, our lab offers assistance to several other research groups by lending our expertise on radioactive tracers.