# Presentation: 007659

## DOE SUPPORT OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE RESEARCH 

- Alan B. Packard, Ph.D.
- Vice President
- Radiopharmaceutical Sciences Council
- Society of Nuclear Medicine

## What is theSociety of Nuclear Medicine (SNM)?

- The SNM is an international society established in 1954
- Serves >16,000 members including physicians, scientists, and technologists
- Promotes research and education in diagnostic and therapeutic applications of radionuclides
- Fosters basic research in Molecular Imaging
- Facilitates 16M Nuclear Medicine procedures each year in the U.S. for the management of patients in  oncology, cardiology, and neurology

## Directives and the Role of DOE

- Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was established to explore “Atoms for Peace”
- AEC (now DOE) has supplied radionuclides for peaceful applications since 1946
- AEC was authorized and directed to promote research activities in the development of medical and biological applications of radionuclides

## Highlights of Nuclear Medicine Research Supported by DOE (I)

- 1946	Rectilinear Scanner (UCLA)
*1958**	**99**Mo/**99m**Tc Generator (BNL)*
- 1959 	Gamma Camera (Donner Lab, LBNL)
- 1970s	mIBG development (U. of Michigan)
*1970s**	**PET (Wash. U., U. of Penn., UCLA)*
*1976**	**[**18**F]FDG synthesis (BNL)*
- 1978	PET with BGO (UCLA)

## Highlights of Nuclear Medicine Research Supported by DOE (II)

*1988 **	**99m**Tc-MIBI – myocardial perfusion **	**	**	**agent (MIT, HMS) *
- 1990s	Micro PET (UCLA)
- 1990s	PET-receptor gene imaging (UCLA)
- 1990s	PET tracers for drug addiction (BNL)
*1990s **	**PET for diagnosis of oncologic,  **	**	**	**cardiologic, and neurological **	**	**	**	**diseases*

## Highlights of Nuclear Medicine Research Supported by DOE (III)

- 1990s	Estrogen receptor imaging (Wash. U., 			U. of IL)
*1990s **	**Radiolabeled antibodies for therapy *
- 1990s	Antibodies for imaging infection
- 1990s	-emitting radionuclides for therapy
*2000**	**PET studies for accurate assessment*
*of therapeutic intervention*
- 2000	PET imaging of gene expression

## AEC’s “Atoms for Peace” Legacy

- The funding has:
- Supported basic research in physics and chemistry of Nuclear Imaging
- Funded development and innovations in equipment of Nuclear and Molecular Imaging
- Accelerated translational research from bench to clinical applications
- Generated outstanding leading researchers in Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

## Basic and Translational Research and Development Grants (2004) 

- Individual Investigators grants -			44
- National Lab. Multi-Investigators projects -	25
- SBIR Grants
- Phase I							 8
- Phase II				_	__	__ 8_
- 							Total		85

## Slide 9

## Effects of Program Termination 

- Weakening of the leadership position of the U.S. in “Atoms for Medical Use” and “Bench-to-Bedside” programs
- Challenging the productivity and creativity of NM professionals
- Slowing advances in a highly innovative branch of medicine
- Delaying improvements in patient care
- Impeding the development of outstanding scientists in the field

## Importance of Continued Funding 

- These severe consequences can be avoided only by the continuation of this program, which supports basic research in “Nuclear Medicine” that is not funded by other mechanisms
- Therefore, on behalf of  the >16,000 members of the SNM, I urge the nation’s leaders not to terminate this vitally important funding