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About
Pharmaco-imaging is the amalgamation of imaging and pharmacology that provides additional information that could not otherwise be obtained using traditional techniques. It also allows for a more precise, faster and direct translation of data from a preclinical to clinical context. Evidence has now been accumulated, pointing to the potential role of imaging in mitigating risk and cost during drug development by validating targets, confirming mechanism of action, obtaining early indicators of bioactivity, assessing pharmacokinetic profiles, providing prognostic indicators and supporting regulatory filings.
There is increasing evidence that imaging can help answer key questions that arise during the drug development process. Molecular imaging, using a variety of targeted probes like Quantum Dots and instrumentation such as optical magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emitting tomography (PET) methods, provides insights into target validation and disease mechanism issues that are crucial in pre-clinical studies. It is anticipated that greater use of imaging during pre-clinical stages will facilitate better translation from animal models to human subjects, by minimizing changes in experimental paradigms while the model organism is changed. In addition, imaging can frequently provide crucial supportive data for regulatory approval. Application of pharmaco-imaging spans most of the therapeutic drug development areas including oncology, cardiology, nephrology, ophthalmology etc.
Goals and Objectives
With the mission of providing educational programs to its members in the scientific areas of imaging and its application in preclinical and clinical areas, including efficacy, safety, and adverse effects, the goals of the focus group are to:
- Develop joint programs for the AAPS annual meetings with other focus groups including Biomarker in Translational Medicine and Population Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics focus groups.
- Reach out to other professional societies and organizations, including the American Association of Cancer Research, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and American College of Clinical Pharmacology, for successful joint symposia and workshops in the area of pharmaco-imaging.
- Provide opportunities for knowledge exchange and networking between its members and members of other professional organizations, and facilitate the advancement of science in preclinical and clinical drug development.
Section affiliations: CPTR | DDDI | PPDM