Below is a list of recent SINAPSE news stories and press releases. Click on a news item below to read the full story.
Chemistry for Imaging Meeting
This was a meeting funded by the SINAPSE SPIRIT initiative aimed at developing novel and collaborative approaches to Knowledge Exchange in Translational Imaging. The aim of the meeting was to cover all aspects of chemical synthesis relating to the development of new materials for pre-clinical and clinical imaging. Selected highlights of the meeting were:
- Professor Veroniqu Gouverneur from the University of Oxford outlined her research into novel fluorine chemistry with the final aim of applying this work to F18 radiochemistry for PET imaging. Novel nucleophilic and electrophilic reactions were outlined using novel solid-phase support chemistry. It was apparent that, while not always directly translatable from F18 chemistry, basic chemistry research is essential to increase the tool box for incorporation of F18 into biological compounds.
- Dr Jan Passchier from Imanova outlined the factors that should be taken into account when developing novel PET radiopharmaceuticals. Although this talk outlined the incredible difficulties in successful radiopharmaceutical development, Dr Passchier suggested that awareness of these factors can greatly increase the chance of success.
- Dr Danielle Vugts from the VU, Amsterdam presented their work with Zr89- labelled antibodies for imaging of tumours. She showed how the uptake of Zr89- labelled antibodies can be used to predict response to antibody-targeted radiotherapy using Y90-labelled antibodies.
- Professor Andre Luxen (Liege) outlined how the Liege group has been working towards performing fluorine radiochemistry on microfluidic chips. One major advance has been ability to concentrate fluoride using ion exchange resins, eliminating the need for drying.
- Professor Neil Thomas (Nottingham) presented their work in functionalising apoferritin with a variety of motifs that would permit multimodal imaging. His particular interest was in using apoferritin for stablising quantum dots, and visualing them in tumour cells.
- Professor David Parker (Durham) presented a number of approaches to increasing the contrast for MR imaging agents. One approach was to change the co-ordination chemistry of Gd agents. He also presented a novel Gd-labelled MR imaging agent for imaging the glutamate system. There are still many barriers to cross before this becomes a clinical useful technology.
Professor Wyper, Director of SINAPSE wound up the meeting. As a physicist in a sea of chemists and biological scientists, he complemented all speakers for the clarity of their presentations and the audience for their enthusiastic response to the talks. He highlighted Dr Vugts' presentation, as a compelling demonstration of the practical value of the scientific endeavor.
Sally Pimlott and Susan Champion
Dec 2011
Managing incidental findings during imaging research
Imaging plays an essential role in medical research. Unexpected or incidental abnormal findings arising in the course of imaging research are common; around 3 to 12% in brain imaging and up to 30% in body imaging. Such unexpected findings can have profound implications for a patient’s future health, and as currently there are no agreed protocols in place, these findings may go unrecognised or unreported.
The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) and Scottish Imaging Network: A Platform for Scientific Excellence (SINAPSE)
lead a UK-wide initiative, supported by the Wellcome Trust, which has resulted in the publication of a report,
Management of Incidental Findings Detected During Research Imaging. The report, produced following a meeting at the
Wellcome Trust in July 2010, summarises current opinions and concerns regarding the practical aspects of managing
incidental findings among those involved in research using imaging. The meeting participants, representing many UK
researchers, ethicists, patient groups, professional, regulatory and funding bodies, and interested parties from
other European countries, find the present situation unsatisfactory on many counts; in particular, practice varies
across the UK, so that there is little evidence on which to base ethical practice. The report recommends:
- raising awareness of the issues among imaging researchers;
- disseminating information on incidence and common types of incidental findings
- assisting prospective researchers seeking guidance from ethics committees and central ethics agencies, on how to handle research studies using imaging;
- issuing guidance for funders of research imaging studies, to ensure measures are in place to manage incidental findings;
- training imaging researchers to recognise common abnormalities and artefacts;
- transparency of study information sheets and consent procedures, to increase understanding of the risk of, and procedures for, managing incidental findings;
- that information be made available on aspects of incidental findings for which there is currently no evidence base.
Professor Mary Evans, Chair of the RCR’s Clinical Radiology Patients’ Liaison Group, said, “In recent years, imaging research has resulted in great benefits for patients in the treatment of a wide range of diseases. The difficulties of deciding what to do about incidental findings during that research have, for some researchers, created a dilemma in how to act in the best interests of research volunteers without detriment to all. This report has done the groundwork, enabling both non imaging trained researchers and research radiologists to work with the lay public towards a more ethical and consistent position which does not compromise the results of their research”.
Full report
MRI techniques to understand the inner workings of a tarantula
SINAPSE researcher, Gavin Merrifield has applied MRI techniques to understand the inner workings of a tarantula. MRI scans of blood flowing through the spider's heart, revealed a double heart beat to push blood around the spiders body. Details of his research were presented at the Society for Experimental Biology meeting, 1st - 4th July 2011, in the SECC, Glasgow. "In the videos, you can see the blood flowing through the heart and tantalisingly it looks as though there might be 'double beating' occurring, a distinct type of contraction which has never been considered before," says SINAPSE PhD researcher Gavin Merrifield of the University of Edinburgh.
First patient treated in groundbreaking trial
In a pioneering clinical trial, the ReNeuron Group has announced that the first patient to be treated with the company's ReN001 stem cell therapy for stroke has been safely discharged from the Institute of Neurological Sciences at Southern General Hospital in Glasgow.
ReNeuron is the first company to have received regulatory approval for any stem cell-based clinical trial in the UK.
National Institute for Health Award
The National Institute for Health has awarded £270,000 to SINAPSE researchers in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow for a study, to be led by Prof Joanna Wardlaw (Edinburgh) looking at the cost-effectiveness of brain imaging in patients who have suffered a mini stroke - or transient ischaemic attack. Over 80,000 people have mini strokes every year in the UK, and current research about the best way to diagnose them hasn't given a clear picture of the most effective approach. This study will help decide which method is more effective at diagnosing mini stroke and also determine whether it could potentially prevent people from suffering a more severe stroke.
Official Opening of Clinical Research Imaging Centre Edinburgh
The official opening of the Clinical Research Imaging Centre (CRIC) at the University of Edinburgh took place on the 29th of October 2010 by HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Chancellor of the University.
The CRIC was built over a period of nearly 2 years, and comprises state of the art facilities, including 3T MRI, 320-slice MDCT, 128-mCT-PET, Radiochemistry and cyclotron facilities and an image analysis laboratory, all aimed at improving patient care and research capabilities through a partnership between the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian Health Board. The facility received vital funding from a large number of sources, including major grant governing bodies (Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, British Heart Foundation), the European Union, the Scottish Funding Council, the Chief Scientist Office as well as corporate, charitable and private individuals, with a total cost of over £20 million. It will support broad imaging-based research within the University and further afield, benefitting areas ranging from Psychiatry to Oncology and from adult Cardiology to Obstetric and prenatal assessment. The opening was preceded by a tour of the facilities, conducted by SINAPSE Chair of Clinical Radiology, Edwin van Beek, who had the opportunity to introduce the staff and demonstrate the potential applications of the various scanners and image analysis laboratories. After the tour, the Chancellor also visited other parts of the Queen's Medical Research Institute and finished his visit with the official unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the event in the presence of a large number of distinguished guests, donors and staff.
- BBC Online (29oct10)
- The Scotsman (28oct10)
- The Scotsman (29oct10)
- STV online (30oct10)
SINAPSE Annual Scientific Prize Winners 2010
- NEXXUS Best Oral Presentation: Benson Mwangi Irungu, Dundee
- NEXXUS Best Poster Presentation: Dr Gordon Waiter, Aberdeen
- BIR Clearest Communication Prize: Samantha Conlin, Edinburgh
The Royal College of Radiologists Audit
RCR AUDIT - The Royal College of Radiologists national audit of pre-operative staging and treatment of rectal cancer is a trainee driven project initiated by the Oncology Registrar Forum of the College. The project addresses important issues around the staging and treatment of rectal cancer, of which there is variance in UK practice. The study population comprises patients with non-metastatic rectal cancer discussed in GI multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings between 29th March and 29th May 2010. The deadline for submitting data to the College is 29th June.
Please contact karl_drinkwater@rcr.ac.uk for further information.
Cabinet Secretary Michael Russell hears about the benefits of Knowledge Exchange activities between Industry and Academia
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Life Long Learning Michael Russell MSP visited the offices of Toshiba Medical Visualisation Systems Europe (TMVSE) in Edinburgh on 24th March to hear about their industrial collaborations with academia. In particular their work with SINAPSE was highlighted and SINAPSE Executive Manager, Dr Janet De Wilde attended the meeting. The benefits to the both sides were emphasised by demonstrating the work of Sean Murphy from TMVS who has been involved in the exchange activities with SINAPSE. The meeting was organised by Dr Siobhan Jordan of INTERFACE, who specialise in linking industry to academia.
Photo names left to right: Dr Janet De Wilde (SINAPSE), Dr Ken Sutherland (TMVSE), Sean Murphy (TMVSE), Cabinet Secretary Michael Russell, Dr Siobhan Jordan (INTERFACE)
SINAPSE is very pleased to announce that Victoria Gradin, SINAPSE PhD student, has just won a very competitive invitation to present at the 23rd European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) Congress, Amsterdam August 2010.
Victoria initially presented her work "Abnormalities in reward prediction error signals in depression and schizophrenia" to the preceeding PhD/post-doc conference in Nice. Over a hundred PhD students and post-docs attended and at the end, 8 clinical and 8 pre-clinical presentations were selected for invitation to present at the Young Scientists Award Symposia as part of the ECNP Congress. Victoria was selected as one of the clinical presenters in Amsterdam, which is a really excellent achievement. Well done Victoria!
SINAPSE has been awarded a grant by Institute of Advanced Studies to run a programme of activities called "What are you thinking? Who Has the Right to Know? Brain Imaging and its Impact on Society".
More Info.....SINAPSE featured in the British Institute of Radiology Autumn 2009 newsletter
More Info.....Conference Report: New Developments in Clinical Trials in Neuroscience & Psychiatry
More Info.....SINAPSE research in the news; dyslexia linked to muscle control
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