Abstract: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a noninvasive imaging technology that uses radiopharmaceuticals to trace in vivo physiology and pharmacology.  WIth the application of mathematical models to dynamic tracer data, parametric images of blood flow, metabolism, receptor availability and target occupancy can be obtained. These are applied in preclinical and clinical studies to evaluate mechanisms of disease and drug-receptor interactions. This presentation will give an introduction to quantitative PET methodology with specific application in neuroscience and neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition, novel methodology to assess pancreatic beta-cell mass with PET will be presented.

Bio: Richard E. Carson received his Ph.D. from UCLA in 1983 in Biomathematics. From that time on, he has focused his research on the development and application of mathematical techniques for the study of human beings and non-human primates with Positron Emission Tomography (PET), a noninvasive imaging technology that uses radiopharmaceuticals to trace in vivo physiology and pharmacology.  From 1983 until 2005, Dr. Carson was an integral part of the PET program at the National Institutes of Health, rising to the rank of Senior Scientist. In 2005, Dr. Carson joined the faculty of Yale University as Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Diagnostic Radiology. He is Director of the Yale PET Center, a state-of-the-art facility focused on quantitative PET techniques using novel radiopharmaceuticals. Dr. Carson is also Director of Graduate Studies in Biomedical Engineering at Yale.