A brand new, state-of-the-art laboratory that is set to take nuclear medical imaging and cancer research in Melbourne to a whole new level was officially opened today at the Austin Hospital.
The Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Solid Targetry Laboratory will enable researchers from the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (LICR), Austin Health and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) to pursue vital research into new nuclear imaging techniques to benefit patients affected by different types of cancers.
This new partnership is a leap for medical research in Melbourne because it brings together the expertise of three of Australia’s best research institutions. The facility will help provide new opportunities for fighting cancer by hosting the development of improved diagnosis and patient outcomes.
The partnership will provide a reliable and cost effective system for the production of relevant long-lived PET radionuclides suitable for radiolabelling of biomolecules for research and clinical imaging applications.
In addition to producing isotopes for different types of cancer-related medical research, the partnership will encourage knowledge transfer between ANSTO, LICR, Austin Hospital staff, and the Australian scientific community. This improved training will mean more patients can benefit from this innovative and highly effective technique to detect cancer.
PET works by emitting gamma rays emitted indirectly by isotopes that are positron-emitting radionuclides; a highly sensitive scanner is recording these rays and is producing a 3D-image of the test subject clearly outlining areas affected by cancer.
This landmark facility will be operated by Austin Health and LICR and was jointly funded by Austin Health, LICR and ANSTO.
The PET Solid Targetry Laboratory was opened by Dr Brendan Murphy (CEO, Austin Health), Professor Andrew Scott (Director, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research) and Dr Adi Paterson (CEO, ANSTO) today at 2pm in a ceremony in the Austin Hospital Board Room.