Novel Uses of In Vivo Molecular Imaging in Pre-clinical Drug Development

Molecular imaging is the use of advanced technologies such as PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) to noninvasively visualize cellular and molecular processes underlying disease states in vivo.

Molecular imaging can also be utilized to monitor therapeutic effects in vivo using biomarkers. These technologies are increasingly employed in the Pharma and biotech industry to provide earlier endpoints during the preclinical drug development process.

The aim of this webinar is to present an overview of molecular imaging technologies, including the multiple imaging modalities and radiotracers available. Examples of preclinical imaging studies will be applied to illustrate how molecular imaging can advance preclinical drug discovery and development.

• Managers and above in established Small to Large Pharma and Biotechnology companies as well as start ups
• Senior Management in pharma/biotech-focused on Imaging capabilities in future study designs

Functional areas include: Pre-Clinical Development, Pre-Clinical Pharmacology, Pre-Clinical Research, Operations, Pre-Clinical Drug Development, CMC, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Stephen Lokitz received his B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from Millsaps College, Jackson, MS in 1998 and a M.S. in Physics from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC in 2000. He continued his education to receive a Ph.D. in Physics from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC in 2004.

After completing a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, he joined Biomedical Research Foundation at LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, LA for managing clinical PET and PET/CT scanners as well as facilitating clinical trials projects. He also participates in various basic science projects associated with PET and SPECT imaging such as developing phantoms and working on low-dose CT scans for attenuation correction purposes. Recent clinical trials that he has worked with include projects to validate novel, proprietary radiotracers and therapeutics for Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons’s Disease as well as metastatic cancer.

Michael Mathis received his B.S. in Chemistry from Texas A&M University at College Station, TX in 1982 and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX in 1988. He completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Molecular Biology at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute of the University of California, San Diego in 1992.

He is currently a Professor in the Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy at LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, LA where he works on translational research of cancer to develop multiple methods for gene and cell therapy, particularly using adenovirus-based delivery vehicles. He has worked extensively with adenovirus vectors to modify capsid proteins for cancer retargeting, as well as to develop cancer vaccines and conditionally replicating anti-cancer adenoviruses. He is currently Director of the Small Animal Imaging Facility where has worked to develop methods for non-invasive monitoring of adenovirus biodistribution in vivo.

Since 1941, the people of Southern Research have contributed to scientific advancements leading to life-saving drugs, safer space exploration, cleaner air and energy production, and enhanced national defense. Southern Research is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization conducting basic and applied research in Alabama, Maryland, and North Carolina in the areas of drug discovery, preclinical drug development, advanced engineering, and environmental protection.

Southern Research has a remarkable cancer-fighting track record, having discovered seven FDA-approved drugs used in the treatment or cancer and seven currently in preclinical development or clinical trials. As a leading contract research organization, Southern Research provides preclinical drug development services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies on an outsourced basis. Southern Research maintains capabilities in all phases of the early-stage drug discovery and development process and provides clients with comprehensive services and support to assist them in streamlining their custom drug discovery and development programs.