- Sponsor
- Cancer Center
- Speaker
- Paul Weavers
- Contact
- Lauren Cross
- lecross@illinois.edu
- Originating Calendar
- Beckman Institute Calendar (internal events only)
Presentation by Paul Weavers from Vision
Abstract:
Metabolism is central to human health and disease, yet capturing its dynamics in vivo has long remained a challenge. Hyperpolarized magnetic resonance imaging (HP MRI) overcomes this by considerably enhancing the signal of 13C-labeled molecules (such as [1-13C]pyruvate), transforming MRI into a real-time, non-invasive tool for metabolic imaging1.
Parahydrogen-Induced Polarization (PHIP) is a fast and scalable method for generating hyperpolarized ¹³C-labeled contrast agents, enabling broader access to real-time metabolic imaging. The speed, scalability and simplicity of PHIP-based HP MRI make it well-suited for integration into preclinical research and clinical workflows across many fields, including oncology, cardiology, and neurologic disease and disorders.
In oncology, hyperpolarized imaging agents provide in vivo insights for the validation of disease mechanisms, metabolic phenotyping, and real-time monitoring of treatment response2. In radiation therapy, they can serve as promising biomarkers throughout the clinical workflow, from evaluation of tumor sensitivity during planning to detecting early treatment response for potential treatment adaptation3. In neurology, these agents enable the detection of subtle metabolic changes in the brains of patients with traumatic brain injury4 or allow to monitor neuroinflammation5.
References:
1. Wang, Z. J. et al., Radiology 291 (2019).
2. Chia, M.L. et al., Oncogene 44 (2025).
3. Lee, C.Y. et al., J Neurooncol 152 (2021).
4. Hackett E.P. et al., iScience 23 (2020).
5. Guglielmetti C. et al., Sci Rep 7 (2017).