Illuminating cancer therapy: novel techniques for nuclear imaging

DIPC Seminars

Speaker

Javier Caravaca
Lawrence Berkeley Lab

When

2026/11/19
12:00

Place

DIPC Josebe Olarra Seminar Room

Host

Adolfo Grushin

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During radionuclide therapy, radioactive isotopes are injected to cancer patients to selectively attack cancerous cells via targeting molecules. While this modality holds great therapeutic value, visualizing where these molecules accumulate within the human body is a challenge with current technology. This is especially true in the case of targeted alpha therapy, where injected activities are orders of magnitude smaller than the standard. We explore gamma-ray imaging techniques that do not rely on collimators, thus enabling high-sensitivity detection of the gamma-rays emitted by the therapeutic radionuclides. We will discuss how we employ collimator-less modalities to generate images of the alpha emitter Ac-225 and its progeny in pre-clinical and clinical scenarios, opening a window to future high-sensitivity scanners able to visualize, monitor, and evaluate treatment in real time.