Molecular Imaging in Focus: Key Takeaways from the 2026 SNMMI Conference with Michael Hofman, MBBS, FRACP

An increased emphasis on prospective research, interdisciplinary collaboration and emerging advances in the field were recurring themes at the 2026 Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) conference, according to Michael Hofman, MBBS, FRACP.

In a recent interview with Diagnostic Imaging, Dr. Hofman discussed key highlights from the conference, including the potential of a new PET radiotracer ¹⁸F-GP1 for detecting deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which was highlighted in SNMMI’s “Image of the Year” recognition at the conference.

While ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) are considered the mainstays of imaging for clots, Dr. Hofman said they provide indirect imaging of clots through compressibility with ultrasound a contrast filling defect with CT. Noting that the research behind ¹⁸F-GP1 is in the “early days,” Dr. Hofman suggested that ¹⁸F-GP1 may emerge as a viable alternative.

“The images presented looked pretty striking, and I wonder if this completely new radiotracer could catch on (and) could even become a standard of care. … With this tracer, (it) would be possible to very quickly image the whole body to look for clots anywhere, and on a total body PET, potentially this could be a two- or three-minute scan, much faster than other imaging modalities,” posited Dr. Hofman, the director of the Prostate Cancer Theranostics and Imaging Centre of Excellence and head of PET/CT at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia.

Dr. Hofman also discussed the prospective EQUIP study, which compared conventional short axial field of view PET/CT scanners with an emerging long axial field of view PET/CT scanner (Omni 128 cm PET/CT, GE HealthCare).

“What we showed is that we were able to reduce imaging time by over 85 percent so from 15 minutes down to two and a half minutes. This is a dramatic reduction in imaging time, but despite this huge reduction in image time, the image quality was superior,” emphasized Dr. Hofman, a professor in the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology at the University of Melbourne in Australia.

(Editor’s note: For additional coverage of the SNMMI conference, click here.)

Overall, Dr. Hofman said he was truly struck by the rapid growth of technological innovation in nuclear medicine on display at the SNMMI conference.

“The wonderful thing about this specialty is it really crosses all the domains of medicine and the technology, the innovation in radiopharmaceutical sciences and on the equipment side is progressing at a rate that is faster than I've ever seen in my sort of 25 years in the career,” noted Dr. Hofman. “So (the SNNMI conference) made for a very exciting yesterday in my 2026 but also an exciting gaze into what's coming in the future.”