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facility to revolutionise research and patient care
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News_
NEW MEDICAL IMAGING FACILITY TO REVOLUTIONISE RESEARCH AND PATIENT CARE

12 December 2023
Australia's first total body PET scanncer for open access research
The Australian National Total Body PET Facility will drive advancements in
cancer studies, neurological disorders, cardiovascular disease and drug
development, and reduce scanning time and radiation doses to transform patient
care.


The Australian National Total Body PET Facility officially opens in Sydney
today, delivering the first Total Body Positron Emission Tomography (TB-PET)
scanner for Australia-wide open access research, as well as clinical use.

The facility will drive advancements in cancer studies, neurological disorders,
cardiovascular disease and drug development, and reduce scanning time and
radiation doses to transform patient care.

The $15 million facility is a collaborative venture between the University of
Sydney, the National Imaging Facility (NIF) and Northern Sydney Local Health
District, to benefit Australian patients, clinicians, researchers and industry
partners.

Located at Royal North Shore Hospital, the Siemens Biograph Vision Quadra is a
revolutionary leap forward in nuclear medical imaging. This cutting-edge device
enables comprehensive whole-body imaging in a single scan, significantly
reducing radiation exposure and cutting down scanning time from 20 minutes to as
little as three, all while delivering higher-quality images.


This facility shows what can be achieved when leading institutions join forces
to advance healthcare and research capabilities.
Professor Mark Scott, Vice-Chancellor

The ability to scan all tissues and organs simultaneously offers unique insights
into whole-body physiology and interactions between organs that no other
clinical imaging technology can provide. It presents research opportunities
across a wide range of medical applications, such as oncology, neuroscience,
cardiology, infectious diseases, and drug discovery – including exploring
complex human biology and the way multiple organs interact such as the brain-gut
axis.

The facility is Australia’s most sensitive PET scanner dedicated to research,
and will be a critical tool for clinical trials and industry collaborations. The
ability to image the entire human body allows researchers to observe drug
absorption, accumulation and elimination processes in all organs simultaneously.

Reduced radiation and scanning times expand PET imaging options for vulnerable
groups such as children in impactful research and clinical studies. It also
encourages the participation of healthy individuals in clinical trials and
enables repeated scanning of patients to better understand disease progression
and treatment effects, broadening medical research insights.

“The collaboration between the University of Sydney, the National Imaging
Facility and Northern Sydney Local Health District demonstrates the power of
partnerships in driving innovation,” said Professor Mark Scott, Vice-Chancellor
and President of the University of Sydney.

“This facility shows what can be achieved when leading institutions join forces
to advance healthcare and research capabilities. We are not only improving the
health of patients today, but also utilising this technology to fast-track new
discoveries for the future.”




AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TOTAL BODY PET FACILITY



 A game changer in medical imaging.





One such study is examining how the molecule oxytocin impacts the brain and body
when delivered to humans. Oxytocin is one of the most important natural
chemicals in the brain that guides social behaviour. When administered, research
shows it can improve social understanding and may have benefits to support
people with schizophrenia and autism. However, it is a mystery about where
oxytocin is absorbed and the circuits it impacts in the brain and body to cause
its effects in humans. 

Using the TB PET Scanner, a team led by the University of Sydney’s Professor
Adam Guastella, will see in real-time the brain and body circuits impacted by
oxytocin after its delivery intranasally or by intravenous injection. This has
the potential to change fundamental knowledge of the biology of human social
behaviour and could lead to a range of new therapies. 

The new facility forms part of Sydney Imaging, the University of Sydney's Core
Research Facility for biomedical imaging. As a nationally significant research
platform, it is also a flagship of the National Imaging Facility (NIF), through
the Australian Government Department of Education’s National Collaborative
Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).

Governing Board Chair of the National Imaging Facility, Professor Margaret
Harding, said the NIF’s investment of $8m in the Australian National Total Body
PET Facility was its largest to date, and represented Australia's largest single
investment in molecular imaging, underpinning research that is of high priority
in reducing Australia’s burden of disease.

“The facility is a unique national asset which will revolutionise Australia’s
capacity to attract and support research and industry undertaking clinical
trials for the development of new pharmaceuticals and medical products to
improve health outcomes for Australia,” Professor Harding said.

The Australian National Total Body PET Facility will operate under an equal
time-share arrangement between clinical use and research, ensuring five day per
week open access for all researchers throughout Australia.

Speaking to patient benefits, Chief Executive of the Northern Sydney Local
Health District, Adjunct Professor Anthony Schembri, said: “Royal North Shore
Hospital and Northern Sydney Local Health District have a proud history of
delivering world-class imaging and care to improve patient outcomes.

“We are extremely honoured to be hosting this Australian-first where patients
can receive world class care, and researchers can use the scanner for clinical
research which may translate into improving patient care in the future.”

The University’s contribution to the new facility is underpinned by a bequest
made by William Chapman who left the majority of his estate as a gift dedicated
to cancer research at the University of Sydney. His legacy is set to have an
enormous impact on cancer research and on the survival and quality of life of
patients.

The University of Sydney’s Professor Emma Johnston, Deputy Vice-Chancellor
(Research), said: “The combined clinical and research arrangements for this
amazing medical imaging technology and its location in a bustling hub of
activity at Royal North Shore Hospital will foster collaboration among
researchers, healthcare providers, policymakers, and industry leaders to
fast-track innovation in research translation.”




MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the Australian National Total Body PET Facility,
including capabilities and bookings for research use visit the Sydney Imaging
website.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Image: Ribbon cutting ceremony at Royal North Shore Hospital with L to R: Emma
Johnston, Katie Ockenden, Mark Scott (The University of Sydney), Anthony
Schembri,  Alison Zecchin (Northern Sydney Local Health District), Simon
Ringer, Robyn Ward (The University of Sydney), Margaret Harding (National
Imaging Facility), Steven Meikle, Rebeca Gonzalez (The University of Sydney),
Dale Bailey (Royal North Shore Hospital), Sarah Flaim (National Imaging
Facility), Fernando Calamante (The University of Sydney), Heather Gough (Royal
North Shore Hospital), Paul Roach (Royal North Shore Hospital), Wotjek Goscinski
(National Imaging Facility), and Trevor Danos (Northern Sydney Local Health
District). 


Australian National Total Body PET Facility



MICHELLE BLOWES

Media & PR Adviser - Health
Mobile
 * +61 478 303 173

Email
 * michelle.blowes@sydney.edu.au





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