Yale Positron Emission Tomography

In 2004, Yale University broke ground for a new, state-of-the-art Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Research Center dedicated to providing the highest quality of nuclear imaging research. Located on Howard Avenue in New Haven, with close proximity to other Yale School of Medicine departments, this impressive 22,000 sq. ft. facility has been established to advance the interests of Yale clinicians, scientists, and students in molecular imaging research.

The PET Center is comprised of a technologically advanced radiochemistry laboratory engaged in the development and use of a complete line of PET radiopharmaceuticals labeled with the most common PET isotopes (11C, 15O, 13N, and 18F); a physics and data analysis section that oversees scanning procedures and optimizes data acquisition and analysis; and a biological section involved in the evaluation and validation of molecular tracers. It is anticipated that the PET center will grow over time to include approximately 45 clinician scientists, basic scientists, technicians, and students.

PET is a non-invasive diagnostic scanning technique that provides researchers and clinicians with visual images of organ function. PET scans can detect biochemical changes in body tissues before structural damage occurs from disease. This information allows clinicians to be proactive in their treatments and enables researchers to detect early biomarkers of disease that can aid diagnosis and advance drug development.

The Yale University PET Center collaborates with other School of Medicine departments to provide educational opportunities for doctoral and postdoctoral trainees. Collaborations with industry partners are serving to advance the use of molecular imaging in new medication discovery and the development of new diagnostic PET radiopharmaceuticals. Current research interests focus on disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), oncology, and cardiology.

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