DOE SUPPORT OF DOE SUPPORT OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE NUCLEAR MEDICINE

RESEARCH RESEARCH

Alan B. Packard, Ph.D.Alan B. Packard, Ph.D.

Vice President Vice President

Radiopharmaceutical Sciences CouncilRadiopharmaceutical Sciences Council

Society of Nuclear Medicine Society of Nuclear Medicine

What is theWhat is theSociety of Nuclear Medicine (SNM)?Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM)?

• The SNM is an international society established in The SNM is an international society established in 19541954

• Serves >16,000 members including physicians, Serves >16,000 members including physicians, scientists, and technologistsscientists, and technologists

• Promotes research and education in diagnostic and Promotes research and education in diagnostic and therapeutic applications of radionuclides therapeutic applications of radionuclides

• Fosters basic research in Molecular ImagingFosters basic research in Molecular Imaging

• Facilitates 16M Nuclear Medicine procedures each Facilitates 16M Nuclear Medicine procedures each year in the U.S. for the management of patients in year in the U.S. for the management of patients in oncology, cardiology, and neurology oncology, cardiology, and neurology

Directives and the Role of DOEDirectives and the Role of DOE

• Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was established to explore “Atoms for Peace”established to explore “Atoms for Peace”

• AEC (now DOE) has supplied radionuclides for AEC (now DOE) has supplied radionuclides for peaceful applications since 1946 peaceful applications since 1946

• AEC was authorized and directed to promote AEC was authorized and directed to promote research activities in the development of medical research activities in the development of medical and biological applications of radionuclides and biological applications of radionuclides

Highlights of Nuclear Medicine Highlights of Nuclear Medicine Research Supported by DOE (I)Research Supported by DOE (I)

• 19461946 Rectilinear Scanner (UCLA) Rectilinear Scanner (UCLA)

• 19581958 9999Mo/Mo/99m99mTc Generator (BNL)Tc Generator (BNL)

• 1959 1959 Gamma Camera (Donner Lab, LBNL)Gamma Camera (Donner Lab, LBNL)

• 1970s1970s mIBG development (U. of Michigan)mIBG development (U. of Michigan)

• 1970s1970s PET (Wash. U., U. of Penn., UCLA)PET (Wash. U., U. of Penn., UCLA)

• 19761976 [[1818F]FDG synthesis (BNL)F]FDG synthesis (BNL)

• 19781978 PET with BGO (UCLA)PET with BGO (UCLA)

Highlights of Nuclear Medicine Highlights of Nuclear Medicine Research Supported by DOE (II)Research Supported by DOE (II)

• 1988 1988 99m99mTc-MIBI – myocardial perfusion Tc-MIBI – myocardial perfusion agent (MIT, HMS) agent (MIT, HMS)

• 1990s1990s Micro PET (UCLA)Micro PET (UCLA)

• 1990s1990s PET-receptor gene imaging (UCLA)PET-receptor gene imaging (UCLA)

• 1990s1990s PET tracers for drug addiction (BNL)PET tracers for drug addiction (BNL)

• 1990s 1990s PET for diagnosis of oncologic, PET for diagnosis of oncologic, cardiologic, and neurological cardiologic, and neurological

diseasesdiseases

Highlights of Nuclear Medicine Highlights of Nuclear Medicine Research Supported by DOE (III)Research Supported by DOE (III)

• 1990s1990s Estrogen receptor imaging (Wash. U., Estrogen receptor imaging (Wash. U., U. of IL)U. of IL)

• 1990s 1990s Radiolabeled antibodies for therapy Radiolabeled antibodies for therapy • 1990s1990s Antibodies for imaging infectionAntibodies for imaging infection• 1990s1990s -emitting radionuclides for therapy -emitting radionuclides for therapy • 20002000 PET studies for accurate assessmentPET studies for accurate assessment

of therapeutic interventionof therapeutic intervention • 20002000 PET imaging of gene expression PET imaging of gene expression

AEC’s “Atoms for Peace” LegacyAEC’s “Atoms for Peace” Legacy

The funding has: The funding has:

• Supported basic research in physics and chemistry Supported basic research in physics and chemistry of Nuclear Imagingof Nuclear Imaging

• Funded development and innovations in Funded development and innovations in equipment of Nuclear and Molecular Imagingequipment of Nuclear and Molecular Imaging

• Accelerated translational research from bench to Accelerated translational research from bench to clinical applicationsclinical applications

• Generated outstanding leading researchers in Generated outstanding leading researchers in Nuclear Medicine and Molecular ImagingNuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

Basic and Translational Research and Basic and Translational Research and Development Grants (2004) Development Grants (2004)

• Individual Investigators grants -Individual Investigators grants - 4444• National Lab. Multi-Investigators projects -National Lab. Multi-Investigators projects - 2525• SBIR GrantsSBIR Grants

– Phase IPhase I 8 8– Phase IIPhase II 8 8

TotalTotal 8585

Budget ($ in thousands)

FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006*

(Request)

Medical Applications 39,011 36,941 13,608(incl. Nuclear Medicine)

SBIR/STTR 5,218 1,204 392

*The President’s budget recommends that the Molecular/Nuclear Research Program be terminated in 2007.

DOE: Medical Sciences Division

Effects of Program Termination Effects of Program Termination

• Weakening of the leadership position of the U.S. in “Atoms Weakening of the leadership position of the U.S. in “Atoms for Medical Use” and “Bench-to-Bedside” programsfor Medical Use” and “Bench-to-Bedside” programs

• Challenging the productivity and creativity of NM Challenging the productivity and creativity of NM professionals professionals

• Slowing advances in a highly innovative branch of medicine Slowing advances in a highly innovative branch of medicine

• Delaying improvements in patient careDelaying improvements in patient care

• Impeding the development of outstanding scientists in the Impeding the development of outstanding scientists in the fieldfield

Importance of Continued Funding Importance of Continued Funding

• These severe consequences can be avoided only These severe consequences can be avoided only by the continuation of this program, which by the continuation of this program, which supports basic research in “Nuclear Medicine” that supports basic research in “Nuclear Medicine” that is not funded by other mechanismsis not funded by other mechanisms

• Therefore, on behalf of the >16,000 members of Therefore, on behalf of the >16,000 members of the SNM, I urge the nation’s leaders not to the SNM, I urge the nation’s leaders not to terminate this vitally important fundingterminate this vitally important funding