About the Department
Ate Haraldsen and Lene Sofia Sørensen, August 2022
The Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET-Centre is a major department for molecular imaging which houses several core facilities. The department is characterized by a very close interaction between clinical and research activities, providing a unique platform for the development of new and improved diagnostic imaging tools including the discovery of new and more sensitive biomarkers.
The daily clinical activities are focused on molecular imaging mainly in oncology and cardiology performing 30.000 patient examinations yearly. The department also has a proud history within neuroscience as well as PET-based research into the physiology of the liver. In-house development and production of innovative state-of-the-art PET tracers enables the department to be at the leading edge of development within nuclear medicine.
Currently, the department employs 140 staff members and researchers and covers a variety of research fields. The staff includes dedicated physicists, radiochemists, clinical researchers and basic scientists as well nuclear medicine physicians and biomedical laboratory scientists. The department operates 3 cyclotrons, 18 hot cells, 1 PET/MRI, 5 PET/CT scanners, 1 HRRT dedicated brain scanner, 1 micro PET/MRI, 4 SPECT/CT scanners and 3 gamma cameras. Several of the scanners are available for research in large animal models. Currently, more than 30 PET tracers are in active use at the department and more than 100 PET tracers has been tested over the last 20 years of research.
The department has three major focus areas: To provide a state-of-the-art diagnostic services to patients, to deliver high quality scientific research independently and in close collaboration with partners at Aarhus University and at the clinical departments at Aarhus University Hospital, and to provide high quality pre- and post-graduate education and training.
The scientific research strategy at the Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET-Centre includes among others: Cellular and myocardial energy metabolism, neuroinflammation, preclinical imaging and drug research, and radiochemistry research. There is a good and long lasting collaboration between academia and the pharmaceutical industry.