| ADMETECH'S RESEARCH PROGRAM
Introduction
AdMeTech Foundation’s research program has been instrumental for facilitating major breakthroughs in research and development of prostate cancer imaging and minimally-invasive treatment since its establishment in 1997. AdMeTech focuses on stimulating new ideas and producing ground-breaking results and/or new technologies of high impact on patient care, frequently within one year after grant awards (see specific examples below). The cornerstone of this program and its success is the design and implementation of the Brain Trust meetings. These meetings bring together multi-disciplinary leaders from medicine, industry, government agencies, and advocacy groups to achieve two major goals:
- To stimulate creation of new ideas and breakthrough research projects in the field of image-guided diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer; and
- To encourage talented investigators to apply their knowledge and tools to the advancement of prostate cancer imaging.
Consequently, Brain Trust enables AdMeTech Foundation to support early stages of the high-impact research projects, before other funding entities are prepared to take a risk. At that early stage, the investment is at its lowest and the impact is at its highest. The research accomplishments described below are direct results of the AdMeTech’s Brain Trust meetings and highlight their critical importance in the overall research program.
Grants 2003-2011
DOD Grant # DAMD 17-03-2-0055
Title: “Molecular Imaging for Prostate Cancer”
Date of Funding: August 2003 through August 2010
DOD Grant # W81XMH-09-1-0552
Title: “Molecular Imaging for Prostate Cancer”
Date of Funding: August 2009 through August 2011
Brain Trusts & Research Projects
Research Projects 2003 - 2005►
In August 2001, AdMeTech Foundation, with support of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, had convened a meeting of the pioneers of molecular imaging with the leaders of prostate cancer research in the areas of medical oncology, urologic surgery, radiation medicine and pathology. As the result of this event, the field of molecular imaging of prostate cancer has been established and the following investigators and research projects have been developed and funded:.read more
Research Projects 2005 - 2008►
The research conducted between 2005 and 2008 was the direct result of the Brain Trust meetings of February 2004, October 2005, March 2006, and early 2007 and continued to result in the development of novel, breakthrough imaging methods for early detection, accurate diagnosis, and minimally-invasive treatment of prostate cancer. These imaging methods are based largely on the in vivo visualization of novel molecular markers which have been shown by in vitro experiments to be specific to prostate cancer. Each team identified a novel imaging agent that made it possible to target prostate cancer-specific molecules. .read more
Research Projects 2008 - 2011►
AdMeTech has had a series of Brain Trust Meetings in prostate MRI in 2007 and 2008, followed by the Consensus Conference in January 2009. As the result of these meetings, prostate MRI was identified as the most promising and mature experimental imaging tool for prostate cancer, and AdMeTech funded the International Prostate MRI Working Group. The goal of this research program is to develop and implement a short-and long-term research strategy and to expedite development and testing of prostate MRI, which has been shown in preliminary studies in the US and Europe to improve detection, staging and treatment of prostate cancer. This program supports critical, potentially breakthrough areas of research in MRI and molecular imaging conducted at the Harvard Medical School, University of Nijmegen in Holland, University of Chicago, Institute for Cancer Research and Royal Marsden Hospital in the United Kingdom, UCSF, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and other institutions. .
read more
Publications, Abstracts, and Presentations (Selected):...read more
Strategic Planning
Continue to expand the organizational and administrative infrastructure of the AdMeTech’s Research Program, which integrates the key personnel, expertise, technologies, resources and environment of all the participating institutions to facilitate advancement of prostate MRI and molecular imaging in general. Jointly with the National Institutes of Health in January 2009, AdMeTech convened Consensus Conference which reviewed the current state of the art in prostate cancer care, identified critical clinical needs and developed future research strategy to address them. It was preceded by the meeting of the Organizing Committee in July 2008, which had framed the conference agenda and recommended faculty members.
Expected Outcomes
1) It is anticipated that a comprehensive research strategy for the field of prostate MRI will be created that will facilitate advancement, clinical testing and implementation of this technology;
2) It is anticipated that critical technical areas in prostate MRI will be advanced and pilot studies will be completed to demonstrate the value of prostate MRI in early detection and prediction of tumor response to radiation treatment;
3) It is anticipated that novel research strategy and novel research ideas will be developed for the high-priority research projects that would facilitate development and implementation of prostate imaging for improved prostate cancer care.
Summary
The research program led by AdMeTech represents a unique, integrated multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary effort which will expedite advancement of molecular imaging as the means to improve early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. This program will address the following fundamental challenges in prostate cancer care:
1) Improved early detection and accurate diagnosis;
2) Guidance and monitoring of the individualized, minimally-invasive patient care;
3) Improved early assessment of response to treatment;
4) Integrated, strategic approach to research and development to expedite creation, evaluation and implementation of new and promising “cutting-edge” molecular imaging technologies.
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