This unit of study explores the characteristics of molecular targets and imaging probes that are required for successful molecular imaging experiments. A molecular target should: (i) detect a fundamental feature of a pathophysiological process, (ii) be validated by neuropathology, (iii) allow detection of disease early in its time course and (vi) lend itself to measurement with a biomarker that is reliable and minimally invasive. Once a molecular target for a particular disease is identified the methodology and requirements of a molecular probe suitable for imaging that target will be described. For example, in brain studies these include: (i) the imaging probe enters the brain in sufficient quantities, (ii) is stable in vivo, (iii) has moderate lipophilicity, (vi) exhibits low uptake of metabolites in brain, (v) is retained in the brain, (vi) displays high specificity and (vii) displays low non-specific binding.
On completion of this unit of study, students should be able to identify molecular targets that may be useful in studying disease processes and have a clear understanding of the properties an imaging probe should possess to enable in vivo imaging of the molecular target of interest. In addition, this unit will provide the rationale for determining whether a drug is suitable for development into an imaging probe and the isotopes and radiolabelling methodologies associated with that process.

This unit of study explores the principles and methods that underpin two key molecular imaging techniques based on the radioactive tracer principle: single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET). Topics covered include the radioactive tracer principle, radioisotope production and decay, radiation transport in tissue, radiation detection, PET and SPECT instrumentation, tomographic reconstruction and an introduction to tracer kinetic modelling. On completion of this unit, students will have a thorough understanding of the imaging chain as it relates to PET and SPECT, starting with the emission of radiation in the body, leading to its external detection and, finally, a reconstructed image of the radioactive tracer distribution in the body. The factors affecting the accuracy and noise properties of molecular images will be explored. Students will also have an appreciation of how to use these imaging technologies to exploit the properties of the radioactive tracer principle and make estimates of important physiological parameters.

The course will cover most aspects of Molecular Imaging including optical imaging (i.e. luminescence and fluorescence), ultrasound, single photon emission tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) as well as hybrid imaging technologies (i.e. PET/CT, SPECT/CT, PET/MRI, SPECT/MRI). The course will include the development of new molecular imaging probes, contrast agents and radiopharmaceuticals for Nuclear Medicine as well as the importance of quality control involved in clinical molecular imaging. This course will give an overview of the innovative clinical imaging applications in cancer, heart diseases, neurological disorders and other human conditions.

Although molecular imaging techniques are non invasive and are performed in vivo (on the intact living body), it is common to take a tissue biopsy or post mortem sample for further analysis and comparison with the in vivo imaging findings. This unit of study will explore the techniques used to analyse such samples microscopically and how the pathology observed at the cellular level may be correlated with disease related changes observed in vivo through molecular imaging techniques. Topics covered include tissue preparation, staining techniques, light microscopy, autoradiography and pathological interpretation of tissue samples and in vivo images. On completion of this unit, students will have a good understanding of the key cellular processes and features measured by immunohistochemical staining techniques, autoradiography, and their in vivo counterparts in molecular imaging.

This unit of study will build on the knowledge gained in the core units of study in semester 1. It will explore molecular imaging technology in more depth and discuss realistic scenarios as they are encountered in research. Topics for discussion include the choices researchers make about suitable biological targets, radiopharmaceuticals, subjects (animal models and patient populations), molecular imaging instruments, experimental protocols and computational algorithms. Students will learn how to extract more useful information from the molecular imaging study through the use of pharmacological models and advanced methods of analysis. On completion of this unit, students will have the requisite knowledge and skills to join a multidisciplinary research team and make contributions to the experimental design and execution of a molecular imaging study.

Molecular imaging in vivo has revolutionised the field of nanomedicine. Central to this field is the ability to label, track and target specific cells and tissue in vivo. This is achieved by utilising the various molecular imaging modalities available to the clinician. In the pre-clinical sense, this includes computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single photon emission tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), optical imaging (i.e. luminescence and fluorescence) and ultrasound. All of these modalities have specific advantages that can be translated into a suitable pre-clinical analysis (e.g. MRI provides exquisite spatial resolution while PET has extremely sensitive detection limits). These techniques can then be utilised to give different information regarding cell-labelling, tracking and targeting. The development of various cell labelling/targeting technologies can involve receptor binding motifs (e.g. antibodies, antibody fragments, peptides, aptamers, small molecules) that are directly attached to the imaging modality, or can be a part of a larger construct (e.g. nanomaterials). In this way, the various requirements for cell-labelling are incorporated into the one construct (e.g. receptor binding for uptake or attachment to cells, molecular imaging agent for tracking). This course will describe the various approaches used for cell-labelling and tissue targeting in vivo, including methods for preparation of chelates and conjugates required for each imaging modality. Particular emphasis will be placed on the complementary nature of each modality.

The dissertation provides candidates with an opportunity to undertake an advanced investigation in a topic or issue through the development of either a proposal for independent research on that topic or a substantial paper that demonstrates the application of scholarly literature to a practical problem or issue.

This unit introduces students to basic statistical principles relevant to the manipulation and analysis of clinical data. Students will be exposed to concepts of sampling, distributions of scores, summaries of data, and treatment of categorical and quantitative data. This last topic will include chi square analysis, calculation of confidence intervals, tests for differences in the locations of samples (including t-tests and tests for non-normally distributed data), correlation and regression, sample size estimation and an introduction to survival analysis. It is expected that at the conclusion of the unit students will be able to: appraise published statistical analyses; perform simple statistical tests by hand and with the assistance of a computer package SAS or SPSS; and present statistical data.

Molecular Imaging is a technology driven field which is continually evolving as new technologies emerge giving rise to new applications. In this unit, you will undertake a research project that requires you to use the knowledge and skills gained throughout the course to solve a real problem aligned with your disciplinary area and interests. You will choose from a list of topics and undertake the design and preparatory phase of the project by distance learning with support from your supervisor. The data collection phase will take place in the research facilities of the partner Universities during an on campus block of up to 10 weeks. On completion of this unit, students will have gained research skills and acquired some practical experience of formulating a problem, designing a study using the most appropriate methodology, acquiring and analysing data and drawing conclusions. Thus, the research project together with the coursework you have completed throughout this program will provide an ideal preparation for those who choose to go on to PhD research.

This unit of study explores the characteristics of molecular targets and imaging probes that are required for successful molecular imaging experiments. A molecular target should: (i) detect a fundamental feature of a pathophysiological process, (ii) be validated by neuropathology, (iii) allow detection of disease early in its time course and (vi) lend itself to measurement with a biomarker that is reliable and minimally invasive. Once a molecular target for a particular disease is identified the methodology and requirements of a molecular probe suitable for imaging that target will be described. For example, in brain studies these include: (i) the imaging probe enters the brain in sufficient quantities, (ii) is stable in vivo, (iii) has moderate lipophilicity, (vi) exhibits low uptake of metabolites in brain, (v) is retained in the brain, (vi) displays high specificity and (vii) displays low non-specific binding.
On completion of this unit of study, students should be able to identify molecular targets that may be useful in studying disease processes and have a clear understanding of the properties an imaging probe should possess to enable in vivo imaging of the molecular target of interest. In addition, this unit will provide the rationale for determining whether a drug is suitable for development into an imaging probe and the isotopes and radiolabelling methodologies associated with that process.

This unit of study explores the principles and methods that underpin two key molecular imaging techniques based on the radioactive tracer principle: single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET). Topics covered include the radioactive tracer principle, radioisotope production and decay, radiation transport in tissue, radiation detection, PET and SPECT instrumentation, tomographic reconstruction and an introduction to tracer kinetic modelling. On completion of this unit, students will have a thorough understanding of the imaging chain as it relates to PET and SPECT, starting with the emission of radiation in the body, leading to its external detection and, finally, a reconstructed image of the radioactive tracer distribution in the body. The factors affecting the accuracy and noise properties of molecular images will be explored. Students will also have an appreciation of how to use these imaging technologies to exploit the properties of the radioactive tracer principle and make estimates of important physiological parameters.

Although molecular imaging techniques are non invasive and are performed in vivo (on the intact living body), it is common to take a tissue biopsy or post mortem sample for further analysis and comparison with the in vivo imaging findings. This unit of study will explore the techniques used to analyse such samples microscopically and how the pathology observed at the cellular level may be correlated with disease related changes observed in vivo through molecular imaging techniques. Topics covered include tissue preparation, staining techniques, light microscopy, autoradiography and pathological interpretation of tissue samples and in vivo images. On completion of this unit, students will have a good understanding of the key cellular processes and features measured by immunohistochemical staining techniques, autoradiography, and their in vivo counterparts in molecular imaging.

This unit of study will build on the knowledge gained in the core units of study in semester 1. It will explore molecular imaging technology in more depth and discuss realistic scenarios as they are encountered in research. Topics for discussion include the choices researchers make about suitable biological targets, radiopharmaceuticals, subjects (animal models and patient populations), molecular imaging instruments, experimental protocols and computational algorithms. Students will learn how to extract more useful information from the molecular imaging study through the use of pharmacological models and advanced methods of analysis. On completion of this unit, students will have the requisite knowledge and skills to join a multidisciplinary research team and make contributions to the experimental design and execution of a molecular imaging study.

The course will cover most aspects of Molecular Imaging including optical imaging (i.e. luminescence and fluorescence), ultrasound, single photon emission tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) as well as hybrid imaging technologies (i.e. PET/CT, SPECT/CT, PET/MRI, SPECT/MRI). The course will include the development of new molecular imaging probes, contrast agents and radiopharmaceuticals for Nuclear Medicine as well as the importance of quality control involved in clinical molecular imaging. This course will give an overview of the innovative clinical imaging applications in cancer, heart diseases, neurological disorders and other human conditions.

Molecular imaging in vivo has revolutionised the field of nanomedicine. Central to this field is the ability to label, track and target specific cells and tissue in vivo. This is achieved by utilising the various molecular imaging modalities available to the clinician. In the pre-clinical sense, this includes computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single photon emission tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), optical imaging (i.e. luminescence and fluorescence) and ultrasound. All of these modalities have specific advantages that can be translated into a suitable pre-clinical analysis (e.g. MRI provides exquisite spatial resolution while PET has extremely sensitive detection limits). These techniques can then be utilised to give different information regarding cell-labelling, tracking and targeting. The development of various cell labelling/targeting technologies can involve receptor binding motifs (e.g. antibodies, antibody fragments, peptides, aptamers, small molecules) that are directly attached to the imaging modality, or can be a part of a larger construct (e.g. nanomaterials). In this way, the various requirements for cell-labelling are incorporated into the one construct (e.g. receptor binding for uptake or attachment to cells, molecular imaging agent for tracking). This course will describe the various approaches used for cell-labelling and tissue targeting in vivo, including methods for preparation of chelates and conjugates required for each imaging modality. Particular emphasis will be placed on the complementary nature of each modality.

The dissertation provides candidates with an opportunity to undertake an advanced investigation in a topic or issue through the development of either a proposal for independent research on that topic or a substantial paper that demonstrates the application of scholarly literature to a practical problem or issue.

Molecular Imaging is a technology driven field which is continually evolving as new technologies emerge giving rise to new applications. In this unit, you will undertake a research project that requires you to use the knowledge and skills gained throughout the course to solve a real problem aligned with your disciplinary area and interests. You will choose from a list of topics and undertake the design and preparatory phase of the project by distance learning with support from your supervisor. The data collection phase will take place in the research facilities of the partner Universities during an on campus block of up to 10 weeks. On completion of this unit, students will have gained research skills and acquired some practical experience of formulating a problem, designing a study using the most appropriate methodology, acquiring and analysing data and drawing conclusions. Thus, the research project together with the coursework you have completed throughout this program will provide an ideal preparation for those who choose to go on to PhD research.

This unit introduces students to basic statistical principles relevant to the manipulation and analysis of clinical data. Students will be exposed to concepts of sampling, distributions of scores, summaries of data, and treatment of categorical and quantitative data. This last topic will include chi square analysis, calculation of confidence intervals, tests for differences in the locations of samples (including t-tests and tests for non-normally distributed data), correlation and regression, sample size estimation and an introduction to survival analysis. It is expected that at the conclusion of the unit students will be able to: appraise published statistical analyses; perform simple statistical tests by hand and with the assistance of a computer package SAS or SPSS; and present statistical data.