3D cellular imaging of medical tracers in tissues
Three-dimensional imaging of radiopharmaceutical distribution in multicellular organism at cellular resolution
This project builds a tiny 3D microscope to show how medical imaging tracers and radiopharmaceuticals move through patient-derived tissue samples to help people who get PET scans or radiotracer treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin Milwaukee NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285151 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will build a new microscopic nuclear imaging device based on radioluminescence microscopy to record where clinical tracers go inside thick, living multi-cellular samples. The team will image patient-derived organoids and other intact tissue samples to map tracer distribution at cellular resolution in three dimensions. By comparing these high-resolution maps to existing PET and autoradiography data, they aim to improve how clinical nuclear images are interpreted and to test candidate radiopharmaceuticals before patient use. Work is primarily laboratory-based and focused on imaging methods rather than treating patients directly.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates to contribute would be patients able to donate tumor or other tissue samples (for example during biopsy or surgery) whose samples could be made into organoids for tracer testing.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate medical treatment outcomes, healthy volunteers without tissue to donate, or those unwilling to provide samples are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors read PET scans more accurately and guide selection of safer, more effective radiopharmaceuticals for patients.
How similar studies have performed: This builds on existing methods like microautoradiography and radioluminescence microscopy but is a novel effort to achieve high-resolution 3D imaging in thick, living tissue and patient-derived organoids.
Where this research is happening
Milwaukee, United States
- University of Wisconsin Milwaukee — Milwaukee, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sung, Yongjin — University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
- Study coordinator: Sung, Yongjin
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.