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Role of neuroimaging in drug development

  • Bikash Medhi

    Bikash Medhi, is Additional Professor in Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India. His area of interest is Experimental Pharmacology, Clinical Research, Regulatory Pharmacology, Development of nano-formulations, Pharmacogenetics, Pharmacogenomics, Stem cells etc. He is specialized in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacovigilance, Drug Regulation, New Drug Development.

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    , Shubham Misra , Pramod Kumar Avti

    Pramod Avti is a Postdoctoral Fellow (2012 – Present) at Montreal Heart Institute and Ecole Polytechnique, Montreal Canada. His research interest involves developing multifunctional bio-compatible nanobiosystems-based imaging contrast agents for theranostic and regenerative medicine applications. In particular, his research is aimed at synthesis, interaction and conjugation of synthesized dendritic structures, bio-molecules and drugs to the metallic nanoparticles for biomedical applications. His previous research (2008–2012) at State University of New York, Stony Brook campus, New York includes the use of metal encapsulated carbon nanomaterials as MRI and photoacoustic imaging contrast agents for biological applications.

    , Pardeep Kumar

    Pardeep Kumar had worked as research fellow in Department of Nuclear Medicine, PGIMER, Chandigarh and is currently doing his postdoctoral fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia. His research area is mainly focused on development of newer SPECT/PET radiopharmaceuticals for cancer imaging and diagnosis.

    , Harish Kumar and Baljinder Singh

    Baljinder Singh is Professor, Department of Nuclear Medicine, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India and currently the Dean – Indian college of Nuclear Medicine. His research interests include development of newer SPECT/PET for targeted molecular imaging and radionuclide therapy in cancer

Published/Copyright: June 24, 2014
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Abstract

The development of new molecular imaging techniques has bridged the gap between preclinical and clinical research. During the last decade, the developments in imaging strategies have taken a great leap by the advancements in new imaging scanners, development of pharmaceutical drugs, diagnostic agents, and new therapeutic regimens that made significant improvements in health care. The knowledge gained from imaging techniques in preclinical research can be applicable to the patients. Similarly, the problems from clinical studies with humans can be tested and studied in preclinical studies. The appropriate application of molecular imaging to drug discovery and development can markedly reduce costs and the time required for new drug development. Some imaging techniques, such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), reveal anatomical images, and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), SPECT/positron emission tomography (PET), and PET show functional images. These developing molecular or neuroimaging methods provide increasingly detailed structural and functional information about the nervous system. The basic principles of each technique are described followed by examples of the current applications to cutting-edge neuroscience research. In summary, it is shown that neuroimaging continues to grow and evolve, embracing new technologies and advancing to address ever more complex and important neuroscience questions.


Corresponding author: Bikash Medhi, Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160 012, India, e-mail:

About the authors

Bikash Medhi

Bikash Medhi, is Additional Professor in Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India. His area of interest is Experimental Pharmacology, Clinical Research, Regulatory Pharmacology, Development of nano-formulations, Pharmacogenetics, Pharmacogenomics, Stem cells etc. He is specialized in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacovigilance, Drug Regulation, New Drug Development.

Pramod Kumar Avti

Pramod Avti is a Postdoctoral Fellow (2012 – Present) at Montreal Heart Institute and Ecole Polytechnique, Montreal Canada. His research interest involves developing multifunctional bio-compatible nanobiosystems-based imaging contrast agents for theranostic and regenerative medicine applications. In particular, his research is aimed at synthesis, interaction and conjugation of synthesized dendritic structures, bio-molecules and drugs to the metallic nanoparticles for biomedical applications. His previous research (2008–2012) at State University of New York, Stony Brook campus, New York includes the use of metal encapsulated carbon nanomaterials as MRI and photoacoustic imaging contrast agents for biological applications.

Pardeep Kumar

Pardeep Kumar had worked as research fellow in Department of Nuclear Medicine, PGIMER, Chandigarh and is currently doing his postdoctoral fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia. His research area is mainly focused on development of newer SPECT/PET radiopharmaceuticals for cancer imaging and diagnosis.

Baljinder Singh

Baljinder Singh is Professor, Department of Nuclear Medicine, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India and currently the Dean – Indian college of Nuclear Medicine. His research interests include development of newer SPECT/PET for targeted molecular imaging and radionuclide therapy in cancer

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Received: 2014-5-2
Accepted: 2014-5-7
Published Online: 2014-6-24
Published in Print: 2014-10-1

©2014 by De Gruyter

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