Successful research on radioligands

The radiopharmaceutical chemistry department at the USB recently recorded significant successes in its research on radioligands (radioactively labeled substances that bind specifically to a target protein, e.g. a receptor on a tumor cell, and thus destroy tumor tissue in a targeted manner while sparing healthy tissue):

Best Paper: the group received the EANM Springer Award for Best Paper 2024 for their groundbreaking research on radioligands targeting the tumor microenvironment. Jacopo Millul, research associate in radiopharmaceutical chemistry, was awarded the prize, which is jointly presented by the European Association of Nuclear Medicine and Springer Verlag. He received it for "Head-to-head comparison of different classes of FAP radioligands designed to increase tumor residence time: monomer, dimer, albumin binders, and small molecules vs peptides". Millul had investigated strategies that increase the residence time of certain radioligands.

Nuklearmedizinische Bildgebung als Image of the Month

Die erste klinische Applikation von 61Cu-NODAGA-LM3, einem neuen Somatostatin-Rezeptor-Antagonisten, im Patienten zeigt eine bessere Bildqualität als die Standard-Somatostatin-Rezeptor-PET/CT. Diese deutliche Verbesserung wurde zum Image of the Month des European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.

Radiation-reduced, rapid cardiac diagnostics

We have been able to optimize CT coronary angiography (CTCA) to diagnose coronary heart disease with less radiation exposure.
CTCA requires synchronization of the CT device with the heartbeat. The CT parameters required for this are now adjusted automatically based on the planning CT and no longer manually based on the BMI.

The new protocol reduces the average radiation dose by 36% (from 1.4 to 0.9 mSv) and speeds up the procedure - while maintaining high image quality.

The project team led by PD Dr Maurice Pradella (senior radiologist), Judith Grothues (radiology specialist) and Dr Christoph Aberle (research assistant) introduced the optimized protocol as standard and was awarded the CIP Prize 2024.

Proven efficacy against insulinomas

A study led by Prof. Damian Wild (Head of Nuclear Medicine) and Prof. Emanuel Christ (Head of Endocrinology) has shown that peptide receptor radionuclide therapy is effective in the treatment of symptomatic metastatic insulinomas. These are characterized by inappropriate insulin secretion and cause life-threatening hypoglycemia.

" to the article "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine: USB study on the treatment of rare insulinomas" from April 9, 2024

World's first ^{61Cu PET image}

After four years of research, the radiopharmaceutical chemistry team developed radioligands based on the previously unexplored PET radionuclide copper-61. In collaboration with the Technical University of Munich, they published the world's first human ^{61Cu-PET image}with their ^{61Cu-PSMA radioligand}in a patient with metastatic prostate cancer.

" to the article "61Cu-PSMA-Targeted PET for Prostate Cancer: From Radiotracer Development to First-in-Human Imaging" in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine

Support for the MirEndo project to simplify endometriosis diagnostics

The Innovation Office of the University of Basel has awarded Dr. Jacopo Millul and Prof. Melpomeni Fani (research associate and head of radiopharmaceutical chemistry) for their technology to simplify the diagnosis of endometriosis. Their project MirEndo received a Propelling Grant. The new technology, which uses PET radioligands, is intended to replace the previous surgical diagnosis and detect the degree of spread of endometriosis in the body with extreme precision.

Congress success under our aegis

The annual conference of the USGG (Union Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Gefäßkrankheiten) took place from November 6-8 in Basel under the presidency of Prof. Christoph J. Zech (Head of Interventional Radiology). With almost 600 participants, the congress was a great success.

Basis for guidelines

The DISTAL study conducted by the specialist group led by Prof. Marios Psychogios, Head of Neuroradiology, and Prof. Urs Fischer, Chief Physician of Neurology, investigated the effectiveness of endovascular therapy for occlusions of medium-sized cerebral arteries in over 500 patients with acute stroke in a randomized controlled trial. The results provide the data basis for therapy guidelines that are currently lacking and will be presented at the 2025 ISC in 2025.