| | Principal Investigators
| Victor W. Pike, Ph.D. |
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Dr.
Pike received his B.Sc (Hons). in chemistry from the University
of Birmingham (UK) in 1972 and his Ph.D. in organic chemistry
from the same University in 1975. Following a postdoctoral
fellowship at Birmingham University, he joined the MRC
Cyclotron Unit (London) in 1978 at the foundation of its
strong research program in positron emission tomography
(PET), eventually becoming Head of its Chemistry and Engineering
Section with a strong personal interest in all chemical
aspects of the discovery, development and evaluation of
novel radioactive probes for molecular imaging with PET.
Dr. Pike was awarded the Marie Curie Award and Springer
Prize for his work in this area. He joined the Molecular
Imaging Branch of NIMH in 2001 as Chief of
the PET Radiopharmaceutical Sciences Section (PRSS). |
| Research Interests |
| Dr Pike's section is focused on developing novel radioactive probes for the investigation of neuropsychiatric disorders with PET. This research encompasses medicinal chemistry for ligand discovery and radiochemistry for the labeling of candidate radiotracers with a short–lived positron-emitting isotope, usually cyclotron-produced carbon-11 (t1/2 = 20 min) or fluorine-18 (t 1/2 = 110 min). Development of methodology for radiolabeling is also a key component of the Section's research. Currently, for example this includes the exploration of i) microwaves to accelerate labeling reactions, ii) the use of supported reagents, and iii) semi-robotic approaches to radiotracer production. Radiotracers for imaging various protein targets (e.g. neurotransmitter receptors) in brain are in development. These targets include for example, Ab-amyloid, the noradrenalin transporter, mGlu5 receptors and 5-HT1A receptors. Candidate radiotracers are evaluated in animals in close cooperation with other sections of the Branch. Evaluation includes the investigation of radiotracer metabolism using the powerful analytical capability of the PRSS. |
| Representative Selected Recent Publications: |
- CONSTANTINOU C., AIGBIRHIO
F.I., SMITH R.G., RAMSDEN C.A. & PIKE V.W.:
[18F]Xenon difluoride exchanges fluoride under mild
conditions – a simple preparation of [18F]xenon
difluoride for PET and mechanistic studies. J. Am. Chem. Soc, 1780-1781. 2001.
- HUME S., HIRANI E.,
OPACKA-JUFFRY J., MYERS R., TOWNSHEND C., PIKE V.
& GRASBY P.: Effect of 5-HT binding of [11C]WAY-100635
to 5-HT1A receptors in rat brain, assessed using in
vivo microdialysis and PET after fenfluramine. Synapse 41, 150-159, 2001.
- ANDRÉE B., OLSSON J., HALLDIN C., PIKE V.W. & FARDE L. The
PET radioligand [carbonyl-11C]desmethyl-WAY-100635 binds selectively to 5-HT1A receptors and induces
a higher radioactive signal than [carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635
in the living brain. J. Nucl. Med., 43, 292-303, 2002.
- MARAZZO A., PREZZAVENTO O., PAPPALARDO M.S., BOUSQUET E., IANDANZA M., PIKE
V.W. & RONSISVALLLE G.: Synthesis of (+)- and (-)-cis-2-[(1-adamantylamino)-methyl]-1-phenylcyclopropane
derivatives as high affinity probes for s1 and s2
binding sites. Il Farmaco, 57, 45-53, 2002.
- LINGFORD-HUGHES A., HUME S.P., FEENEY A., HIRANI E., OSMAN S., CUNNINGHAM V.J., PIKE V.W., BROOKS D.J. & NUTT D.J.
Imaging the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor subtype containing
the a5-subunit in vivo with PET. J. Cerebr. Blood Flow Met., 22 878-889, 2002.
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