PhD Studentship in Molecular Imaging Applications Utilising Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in Drug Discovery, UK

July 21, 2010

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PhD Studentship,Molecular Imaging Applications Utilising Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in Drug Discovery,Cardiff School of Chemistry,UK

Job Description: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) can make a very substantial contribution to the process of drug discovery in helping identify suitable lead compounds as well as providing a more accurate understanding of drug efficacy and targeting efficiency. This contribution applies to both early phase (decreasing wasted effort following poor lead choices) and late stage (toxicity and dosing studies as well as tracking response).
Current clinical PET studies and clinical research revolves predominantly (approx 80%) around the use of 18-FDG (18F labelled-fluorodeoxyglucose). There is considerable interest in PET applications of heavier and metallic elements, particularly Cu, Ga and Y. Cu is now used routinely in Europe and the rest of the world for neuro- and cardiac-imaging, as is Ga (which is attractive and Ga does not need a cyclotron thus broadening the opportunity for application across the world). There are potential advantages in the use of metals including 64Cu, 89Y, 92Zr etc. in that they greatly expand the chemical nature of PET probes and consequently the range of potential applications in biological imaging. Development of the ligand chemistry binding the metal will allow biologically active functions to be incorporated which will enable specific targeting of the probe. This part of the design will in collaboration with colleagues in the Pharmaceutical and Biological sciences. Broadening the ‘armoury’ of imaging probes to map biological function will help facilitate drug discovery programmes. This project is to further develop the ligand chemistry for these metals and to introduce new ligands for the application of Y in PET which has not been widely exploited, but in view of its longer half-life and high positron yield remains of considerable interest for future PET developments.
The student will be a member of a group of 6 PhD students each working in different research groups in different Schools across the University. Each student will attend lectures and other activities closely related to their field of research and in order to enhance their background and breadth of understanding. Students will be expected to be active members of this group and presenting their own research in group meetings and attending research colloquia and other relevant research related activities. For this project, the student will work primarily in the School of Chemistry and will interact with and perform PET studies/radiochemistry as required in the School of Medicine under the direction of Dr. Steve Daniels.

Application Deadline 31July 2010

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Scholarship Tags: Drug Discovery, Scholarship, Technology, UK, University