Molecular Imaging Probes for Clinical MRI
Peter Caravan, EPIX Pharmaceuticals
March 30, 2007
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a widely used diagnostic technique in medicine. MRI provides excellent soft tissue contrast with high spatial resolution. About one third of MRI scans are enhanced by administration of metal-based compounds termed "contrast agents". Current commercial contrast agents function in a non-specific manner and provide image contrast based on their distribution in the body. There is a growing trend in radiology to extend beyond anatomical imaging to imaging at the molecular level. The ability to noninvasively and specifically detect markers of disease is attractive from a diagnostic and therapeutic monitoring perspective. The high resolution of MRI, its lack of ionizing radiation, and its large installed scanner base would make it an ideal modality for molecular imaging. However the concentration of contrast agent required to produce image contrast is high relative to that of many putative molecular targets. This sensitivity challenge can be overcome by appropriate target selection and improvements in the materials used to provide image contrast. As an example, the design and development of a fibrin specific contrast agent for imaging thrombo-embolic disease will be discussed.
Biography
Dr. Peter Caravan received his B.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry from Acadia University and the University of British Columbia, respectively. He did post-doctoral research at the Université de Lausanne in Switzerland. In 1998 he joined a small pharmaceutical company called EPIX Medical in Cambridge, MA as a staff biophysicist. Dr. Caravan worked at EPIX for 9 years where his responsibilities included leading research programs as well as chemistry and biophysics functions. His last position was Senior Principal Scientist with responsibility for MRI contrast agent research. Beginning in April he will be Assistant Professor at the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.