# Development of a real-time interactive PET/US imaging technology to enhance theranostics applications in precision medicine

> **NIH NIH R01** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $516,944

## Abstract

Project Summary / Abstract
This project will develop a novel molecular imaging technology that combines positron emission tomography
(PET) and ultrasound (US) imaging to enable interactive PET and US scanning with real-time visualization of
molecular contrast fused with US images. The motivation is to support an unmet clinical need of optimization
of personalized patient therapy. Ultrasound imaging is widely used for tissue biopsy. The biopsied tissue
samples permits molecular phenotyping and genotyping in order to better understand the pathobiology and to
identify druggable target(s) in diseased tissues to tailor the therapeutical regimen. Although the US-buided
biopsy is the current practice, its accuracy can be further improved by incorporating the PET tracer signal
localization within the target lesions.
The proposed technology builds upon a compact PET device that incorporates a robotic arm to interactively
scan a patient to acquire images from any organ-of-interest. Fast image reconstruction engine will enable real-
time visualization of molecularly targeting agents in organ/lesion for therapy optimization in individualized
precision medicine. An unique advantage of this technology is that it combines a compact PET device with
any existing clinical US scanner to enable the proposed PET/US imaging capability. These features will
support interventions such as image-guided biopsy by overcoming the hurdle due to the size and cost of
clinical PET scanners.
The outcome of this effort is a new class of compact molecular imaging (MI) technology that can provide
anatomic images, physiologic functions (such as speed of blood flow using Doppler US), and molecularly
targeted information for a wide range of point-of-care imaging applications. The real-time PET/US imaging
capability will disrupt the status quo and stimulate new applications of novel MI agents and MI-guided
interventions, analogous to the invention of PET/CT that completely revolutionized the clinical utility of PET.
Importantly, the cost of such system will be a fraction of a clinical PET/CT or PET/MR, making it the most
affordable hybrid molecular imaging device for deploying novel applications. Thus the proposed technology
development will address current unmet clinical needs and make long lasting scientific and societal impacts for
years to come.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10981213
- **Project number:** 1R01EB035144-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** YUAN-CHUAN TAI
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $516,944
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2028-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10981213

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10981213, Development of a real-time interactive PET/US imaging technology to enhance theranostics applications in precision medicine (1R01EB035144-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10981213. Licensed CC0.

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