Molecular Imaging Program
Mission
The mission of the Molecular Imaging Program is to accelerate the development of cancer therapies using novel molecular imaging techniques.
Overview
The Molecular Imaging Program (MIP) is a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and scientists dedicated to exploring new molecular imaging techniques as a means of detecting and monitoring cancer. The program is composed of three major sections: Clinical Research, Pre-clinical Research, and Physics. In addition, MIP has a close relationship with the Small Animal Imaging Program on the Frederick campus of NCI. The Clinical Research section conducts human studies with novel positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents and techniques. An area of special interest is prostate cancer in which both PET and MRI are performed on patients prior to surgery. MIP is also exploring a number of agents such as FLT, Fluciclitide, indium-labeled trastuzumab, FDG, F-ACBC, and C-11 acetate. The Clinical Research section runs the Molecular Imaging Clinic, which houses a 3T MRI and a Time of Flight PET computed tomography (CT) scanner side by side. The Pre-clinical Research section is headed by Dr. Hisataka Kobayashi, who is MIP’s chief scientist. Dr. Kobayashi conducts research in optical imaging particularly in ovarian cancer models and focuses on optical agents that activate in tumors. Other researchers in this group are Elaine Jagoda who conducts microPET and optical imaging of c-MET receptor in vivo and Noriko Sato who conducts immunologic imaging. The Physics section is headed by Marcelino Bernardo who is the MRI physicist. Steve Adler is the clinical PET physicist. Mike Green and Jurgen Seidel, both nuclear physicists, head the Instrumentation Group that builds new small-animal imaging cameras such as microPET, microSPECT, and microGamma cameras. MIP also has a cooperative research and development agreement with Philips Medical Systems, and two clinical scientists (Drs. Wang and Liu) are on site and focused on quantitative MR imaging. The Small Animal Imaging Program in Frederick is a full-service rodent imaging department that provides optical, nuclear, magnetic resonance, and CT capabilities; it is directed by Joe Kalen as a consortium for NCI.
Research Team
Peter L. Choyke, M.D., F.A.C.R
Program Director
Molecular Imaging Program, CCR, NCI
Dr. Peter L. Choyke obtained his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and completed his residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Following an imaging fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania he joined the faculty of Georgetown University and soon thereafter the Diagnostic Radiology Department, Clinical Center, NIH. In June 2004 he started the Molecular Imaging Program within the Center for Cancer Research, NCI.
Hisataka Kobayashi, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief Scientist, Pre-Clinical Development Section
Molecular Imaging Program, CCR, NCI
Dr. Hisataka Kobayashi is the chief scientist in the Molecular Imaging Program at the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. Dr. Kobayashi was awarded his M.D. and Ph.D. (immunology/medicine) from Kyoto University in Japan. He trained as a residency and a fellow in the Department of Diagnostic Radiology at Kyoto University Hospital and Kyoto National Hospital, respectively. He joined as a post-doc fellow in the Nuclear Medicine Department at the Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health in 1995, joined the Metabolism Branch in 2001, and finally moved to his current position in the Molecular Imaging Program at NCI in 2004. His interest is in developing novel molecular imaging agents and technologies based on nanotechnology and chemical biology, which are feasible for the clinical application, especially for targeting cancers.
Karen A. Kurdziel, M.D.
Staff Clinician
Molecular Imaging Program, CCR, NCI
Dr. Karen Kurdziel obtained her medical degree from Pennsylvania State University, Hershey Medical Center, and entered a residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Medical College of Virginia. Being intrigued by positron emission tomography, she then completed a nuclear medicine residency at VCU. Following a fellowship in the NIH Imaging Sciences Training Program, she accepted a position as the Medical Director of the Molecular Imaging Center at VCU. Following this, she was recruited to the NCI Molecular Imaging Program within the Center for Cancer Research, NCI.
Research Staff
Revia Wade, C.R.N.P.
Nurse Practitioner
Molecular Imaging Program, CCR, NCI
Revia Wade received her bachelor of science in nursing from Salisbury State University and her master’s degree as an advanced practice nurse from Howard University. She received board certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a family nurse practitioner and has 20 years of clinical experience in areas such as critical care, long-term care, and healthcare administration. Following her role as director of diagnostic cardiology in a community hospital, Revia practiced as a disease manager for a randomized control pilot program for chronic disease management. Revia has experience as a general medicine provider and has worked as a nurse practitioner house officer for long-term care and sub-acute rehab. Revia joined SAIC/Frederick to support the NCI/Molecular Imaging Program within the Center for Cancer Research.
Revia is coauthor of an article in the May/June 2002 issue of the Association of Black Nursing Faculty Journal examining a study of African American males’ perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes regarding early detection methods of prostate cancer.
Yolanda McKinney, R.N., B.S.N.
Research Nurse
Molecular Imaging Program, CCR, NCI
Yolanda McKinney received her bachelor of science degree in nursing from the Medical College of Georgia in 1994. After spending 7 years as an emergency room nurse, she came to NIH in 2000. From 2000 to 2003, she worked for the Clinical Center in the Special Procedures section of the Diagnostic Radiology Department. She provided care for Clinical Center patients who were undergoing procedures such as radio-frequency ablation, CT-guided biopsies, central venous catheter placements, chemo-embolizations, and arteriograms. Additionally, she served as a resource to patients and nursing staff regarding the exams and procedures performed in the Radiology Department. In 2003, she transitioned to become a research nurse specialist in the Clinical Center’s Diagnostic Radiology Department where she coordinated clinical trials for the department’s healthy volunteer and prostate imaging programs. In 2008, she joined the National Cancer Institute's Molecular Imaging Program as a research nurse specialist. She collaborates with the Molecular Imaging team of M.D.s, medical physicists, nurse practitioners, and technologists on the development, implementation, coordination, and management of protocols.
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