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Home News University of Tennessee Medical Researcher Speaks at Nobel Conference

University of Tennessee Medical Researcher Speaks at Nobel Conference

Published: Wednesday, June 6, 2007

David Townsend, Ph.D., director of the Molecular Imaging and Translational Research Program at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, was chosen to speak at the May 2007 Nobel Conference, “Watching Life Through Molecular Imaging,” in Stockholm, Sweden.

Dr. Townsend presented information from his research in designing and developing advanced PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scanning instrumentation, which enhances physicians’ ability to diagnose and stage cancer and potentially offers an earlier diagnosis before advanced symptoms of a disease appear. In particular, he discussed the combination of molecular imaging technology (PET) with the study of the structure of organs (Computed Tomography or CT) to gain improved results from PET scanning. He joined 30 other scientists from around the world in presenting advances in molecular imaging.

“It was an honor to be invited to speak at this Forum and to have the opportunity to present the work of our UT Program to such a distinguished scientific group,” Dr. Townsend said. “Part of the mission of the UT Molecular Imaging and Translational Research Program is to develop methodology that directly impacts patient care. Each advance in imaging technology has the potential to impact the lives of countless patients.”

In 2004, Dr. Townsend was selected as the Distinguished Clinical Scientist by The Academy of Molecular Imaging for his contributions to the development of the PET/CT scanner. Most recently, he was elected as an IEEE Fellow, one of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers’ most prestigious honors, for contributions to PET. He designed and built the first rotating partial ring PET scanner, and he was principal investigator on the first proposal to design and build a combined PET/CT scanner. The PET/CT scanner was listed in TIME Magazine as the medical invention of the year in 2000.

“Every day, patients here and around the world benefit from the advancements made by David Townsend and his group,” said James Neutens, Ph.D., Dean, UT Graduate School of Medicine. “His work is a shining example of the caliber of research being conducted at the University of Tennessee.”

Molecular imaging is a rapidly emerging biomedical research discipline that uses biomarkers—agents, such as glucose, labeled with a radioactive tracer—to image targets in the body. Biomarkers chemically interact with the target organ and then provide three-dimensional images for the physician as a consequence of that interaction. Advances in the field of molecular imaging should lead to better staging and treatment of cancer and cardiac and other diseases.

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine in Knoxville is part of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, the statewide academic health system. The school is home to more than 200 teaching physicians and researchers and more than 175 medical and dental resident physicians in 12 residency and nine fellowship programs. The school, together with clinical partner, University Health System Inc., forms the University of Tennessee Medical Center, the only academic medical center in the area.

For more information, visit the UT Graduate School of Medicine.
http://gsm.utmck.edu.