Overview
In February 2000, with the support of Bristol Myers Squibb, and in August 2001, with the support of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, AdMeTech brought the pioneers of molecular imaging together with the leaders of prostate cancer research in the areas of medical oncology, urologic surgery, radiation medicine and pathology. As the result of this event, the field of molecular imaging of prostate cancer has been established and the following investigators and research projects have been developed and funded.
Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School
Dr. William Sellers
Associate Professor of Medicine
Key Accomplishment:
A fundamental discovery that would make it possible to determine if cancer treatment is effective as early as 24 to 48 hours after its administration, based on the analysis of glucose metabolism with PET imaging. This discovery took place within six months of funding and addressed the critical clinical need to have tools for early assessment of tumor response to treatment in order to avoid ineffective, expensive procedures that usually cause major complications and reduced quality of life.
Impact on the Attraction of Talented Investigators:
Dr. Sellers is a medical oncologist who had been focused on molecular biology of prostate cancer; he had not been involved in in vivo molecular imaging until he participated in AdMeTech’s Public Conference in February 2001 and our Brain Trust meeting in August 2001.
Boston University
Dr. Irving Bigio
Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Key Accomplishment:
Pioneered development of the new generation of prostate-dedicated novel optical technology, Elastic Scattering Spectroscopy (ESS), to improve early detection and guidance of biopsy within one year of funding.
Impact on the Attraction of Talented Investigators:
Dr. Bigio, one of the top international leaders in optical imaging, had not worked in the area of prostate cancer until he participated in AdMeTech’s Brain Trust, starting in June 1999.