Visualizing the immune system.

Multimodality preclinical and clinical approaches to image immune response using novel innovative probes

Complex immune responses result in the production and distribution of a variety of immunological precursors and cells throughout multiple organ systems. In order to further illuminate the local and systemic cellular function and migration patterns, our group has developed special non-invasive immuno-imaging methods. Being part of the Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, we are fortunate to have access to a fleet of dedicated preclinical and clinical imaging systems, including PET/MR, PET/CT, high field MR and optical imaging, which can be utilized to study disease status in murine, swine, rabbit and non-human primate models. Using novel radiotracers, we have established approaches to non-invasively monitor immunological processes. Among different applications, we have studied the induction of trained immunity, the egress and migration of myeloid cells in ischemic heart disease and cancer, amygdala metabolic activity as a predictor for cardiovascular events, and local macrophage proliferation and monocyte production as a biomarker for the progression of atherosclerosis. Our lab revels at the opportunity to visualize the immunomodulatory effects of our carefully designed nanoimmunotherapeutics using a range of highly advanced scanners in BMEII’s advanced facilities.