SNM targets molecular imaging with new center

The Society of Nuclear Medicine recently added the tagline "advancing molecular imaging" to its logo. Now it is developing a center of molecular imaging in an effort to disseminate information and promote research in the rapidly advancing field.

Society president Dr. Mathew Thakur, director of radiopharmaceutical research and nuclear medicine research at Thomas Jefferson University, detailed the SNM's intentions in creating such a center in the December issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

While the center is still virtual at the moment, it is set to go live after the society's midwinter educational symposium next week in Florida. At the meeting, a task force will hammer out operational procedures such as selection of officers and membership dues.

The center will welcome input from everyone interested in molecular imaging, including physicians, scientists, technologists, and radiologists, Thakur said. It will address such molecular imaging topics as surrogate markers, drug development, targeted diagnosis and therapies, and training in these areas.

One avenue the center will use to promote research is development of molecular imaging 101-type courses to be taught at academic institutions and of traveling classes. While these are long-term goals, the center already has two molecular imaging courses prepared for the SNM's annual meeting in June, he said.

The SNM will work with federal organizations such as the National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering to acquire additional funds to promote activities that will support future molecular imaging research.

Thakur noted that the center's activities will be inclusive, also focusing on research in optical imaging, ultrasound, CT, and MRI.

"We are very excited about this project. Molecular imaging has very deep roots in nuclear medicine. This center will have a major role to play in this developing field," he said.

For more information from the online Diagnostic Imaging archives:

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