A recently approved grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is bringing the latest in imaging equipment to the Johns Hopkins Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Center.

PET is a noninvasive molecular imaging technique used to study biological processes and disease states through the use of various radiopharmaceuticals. 

Leading the project is Martin Lodge, director of physics at the Johns Hopkins PET Center. With 30 years of experience in medical imaging physics, Lodge works alongside medical professionals on the technical aspects of PET/CT scanning. 

In his search to continue improving Johns Hopkins’ PET capabilities, Lodge applied to the NIH’s High-End Instrumentation (HEI) Grant Program. The program encourages groups of NIH-supported researchers to apply for grants to purchase high-end, specialized, commercially available equipment.

Motivated by the center’s need for new equipment, Lodge reached out to NIH-funded researchers across Johns Hopkins who use PET imaging. Working together, they applied and were approved for a $2 million grant.

The funding will purchase a state-of-the-art PET/CT scanner that will be used in research at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Johns Hopkins Department of Radiology and Radiological Science will fund renovations to the PET Center space prior to the scanner’s arrival.

Slated to be in use by spring 2024, the new PET/CT scanner will offer researchers across Johns Hopkins — from radiology to oncology, neurology and more — access to substantially improved image quality and more accurate quantitative data. The scanner’s capabilities will allow for a broader range of studies than currently possible, opening opportunities for new research applications across Johns Hopkins.