Roger Sit, Ph.D., CHP

NCHPS Spring 2013 Meeting

February 28, 2013

UNC’s Biomedical Imaging

Research Center (BRIC)

Outline

Introduction

History

Describe capabilities of the Center developed

over last few years

Describe the evolution taking place presently

Describe the capabilities that are planned

Tie in to Health Physics or Radiation safety

Describe some of the challenges

Future – new imaging modalities

The BRIC

Biomedical Research Imaging Center

Established in 2005 to serve the imaging needs

of UNC-Chapel Hill biomedical researchers and to

advance the rapidly developing science of

biomedical imaging. The Center enables a better

understanding of disease, including cancer and

neurologic diseases and studies the effects of

genetic changes on disease development and

progression.

Example: Therapeutic agent for

Ovarian Cancer

Ho-165 (n,g) Ho-166

Used mesopourous silica nanoparticles as carrier

Study done in ovarian tumor-bearing mice

Ho-166 emits low energy gamma for imaging as well

as high energy betas for therapy

SPECT/CT used for tissue biodistribution studies

PET/CT used for disease progression

Conclusion: The retention of holmium in nanoparticles

during irradiation and in vivo after intraperitoneal

administration as well as their efficacy in extending survival

in tumor-bearing mice underscores their potential as a

radiotherapeutic agent for ovarian cancer metastasis.

Truly Interdisciplinary

Psychiatry

Neurology

Psychology

Pathology

Oncology

Physics

Biology

Rheumatology

Cardiology

Gastroenterolo

gy

Public health

Genetics

Dentistry

Pharmacology

Biomedical

engineering

Chemistry

Bioinformatics

Pharmacy

Pharmacology

Nursing

Radiology

And

others…….

hopefully

Radiation

Safety

Humble beginnings

Early Years

Half focused on fMRI imaging of humans

3-T Siemens Trio (whole body)

3-T Siemens Allegra dedicated to neurological

exams of the brain

Half focused on research imaging of animals

SPECT/CT

PET/CT

CT

Ultrasound

MRI

Optical

Siemens Trio Siemens Allegra

Animal Imaging: MRI

Bruker

9.4 T

MRI

Scanner

Animal Imaging: CT

SCANCO mCT

40

GE eXplore

CT120

Animal Imaging : CT

Carbon Nanotube (CNT) based

microCT Imaging System

Animal Imaging: SPECT/CT

GE eXplore speCZT

System

Animal Imaging: PET/CT

GE eXplore Vista

Animal Imaging: Ultrasound

Visualsonics Vevo2100

Animal Imaging: Optical

IVIS Kinetic Optical

System

Animal Imaging: Optical

VisEn

FMT-2500

In-vivo

Optical

Imaging

System

NC Cancer Research Fund

In 2007, the North Carolina Legislature

established the NCCRF and began a long term

financial commitment to research and treatment

of cancer to improve the health and well being of

the citizens of North Carolina.

The fund enabled:

highly successful recruitment of new investigators

major expansion of research capabilities

new buildings

BRIC Growth

Addition of a 500 sq. feet enclosure

New Imaging Research Building

2012 A Banner year

Installed the fourth PET/MR fusion imaging

device in the US. This is the Siemens Biograph

mMR combining the functional imaging of PET

with the superior soft tissue contrast of MRI

imaging.

Big advantage in having simultaneous imaging.

PET/CT had been the best imaging technique but

requires imaging with a PET scanner, then CT,

then overlaying images.

PET/MR provides better image, lower patient

dose, and quicker scans

Siemens Biograph mMR

2012 continued

Installed the second dose-on-demand mini-

cyclotron in the US. This is the ABT Biomarker

Generator

ABT Biomarker Generator -

Cyclotron

AND

BRIC Building

New Capabilities for New

Building

GE PETtrace 17-MeV cyclotron

Irradiator

Siemens 7T Full Body Scanner

850 MHz NMR

PET/CT Full body scanner

Vault for Two Cyclotrons

Vault Door: Plug on Rails

GE PETtrace Cyclotron

Irradiator

Siemens 7T Full Body Scanner

Bruker Ascend 850 MHz NMR

New Building Sub-basement

Cyclotron, radiochemistry, QC

NMR Suite

7 T MRI

Animal facilities: 9.4 T, optical, ultrasound, PET/CT, SPECT/CT, microCT

Basement

Shell space for commercial partner

Irradiator

1st Floor

3T MRI

PET/MR

PET/CT

IRB Sub-basement

IRB Basement

IRB First floor

HP Challenges Plethora of machines and materials concerns

Work with multiple shielding contractors

Work with multiple equipment contractors

Work with both branches of NC-RPS

Bridging the knowledge gap for funding organization, architects, and /or construction management

Integrate safety issues that may not have always been a consideration (magnetic fields, cryogenics, high rf, etc)

Trying to convince line management that additional resources are necessary

Working out case-by-case procedures for external research collaborators

Future

X-ray Luminescence CT

X-ray Fluorescence CT

Cerenkov imaging

The End

Thank you