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Research Projects & Direction

The research program is embedded in the multidisciplinary field of translational cancer research with a special focus on the design, synthesis, and radiopharmacological characterization of novel radiopharmaceuticals to optimize current diagnosis and treatment of cancer to enhance patient care. Research projects are centered at the crossroads between preclinical, and clinical cancer research, and cover basic activities. Research activities aim to evaluate and translate the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of novel biomarkers and specific biochemical signatures associated with the development and progression of cancer. This especially involves PET radiopharmaceuticals and pre-clinical PET imaging for non-invasive assessment of cancer-related metabolic pathways and biochemical processes at the cellular and molecular level.

Targetry; Production of Novel Radioisotopes – 203Pb towards theranostic isotope pair 203Pb/212Pb

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Solid target assembly components.(1) Roughened aluminium disc to facilitate cover attachment machined with central depression. (2) Tl metal pellet in the central depression. (3) Indium wire seal annulus. (4) Aluminium target cover. (5) Completed target assembly encapsulating a Tl metal pellet.

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Target energy window and nuclear reaction cross-section stimulation data of the proton-induced nuclear reactions on isotopically enriched 205Tl for 201/202m/203/204mPb production

  • Industry collaboration with Viewpoint Molecular Targeting, Inc. (now Perspective Therapeutics, Inc.) Coralville, IA 52241, USA

  • Nelson BJB, Wilson J, Schultz MK, Andersson JD, Wuest F. High-yield cyclotron production of 203Pb using a sealed 205Tl solid target. Nucl Med Biol. 2023 Jan-Feb;116-117:108314. doi: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2023.108314. Epub 2023 Jan 13. PMID: 36708660.

Radiochemistry/Imaging; Novel Radiotracers for Molecular Imaging of PSMA in Prostate Cancer – Avoiding salivary gland uptake

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 A) Synthesis of [18F]FB-Cys-urea-Glu, B) Binding of [18F]FB-Cys-urea-Glu in LNCaP cells

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  • The research was supported by the Alberta Cancer Foundation (ACF) and the Kipnes Foundation

  • Francis F, Wuest M, Woodfield JD, Wuest F. Palladium-Mediated S-Arylation of Cysteine Residues with 4-[18F]Fluoroiodobenzene ([18F]FIB). Bioconjug Chem. 2024 Feb 21;35(2):232-244. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00522. Epub 2024 Jan 12. PMID: 38215469.

Radiolabeled peptides targeting bombesin receptors for molecular imaging of prostate and breast cancer 

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  • Richter, S., Wuest, M., Bergman, C. N., Way, J. D., Krieger, S., Rogers, B. E., & Wuest, F. (2015). Rerouting the metabolic pathway of 18F-labeled peptides: The influence of prosthetic groups. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 26(2), 201–212.

  • Richter, S., Wuest, M., Bergman, C. N., Krieger, S., Rogers, B. E., & Wuest, F. (2016). Metabolically Stabilized 68Ga-NOTA-Bombesin for PET Imaging of Prostate Cancer and Influence of Protease Inhibitor Phosphoramidon. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 13(4), 1347–1357.

  • Ferguson, S., Wuest, M., Richter, S., Bergman, C., Dufour, J., Krys, D., Simone, J., Jans, H. S., Riauka, T., & Wuest, F. (2020). A comparative PET imaging study of 44gSc- and 68Ga-labeled bombesin antagonist BBN2 derivatives in breast and prostate cancer models. Nuclear Medicine and Biology, 90–91, 74–83.

  • ​Research supported by the Kipnes Foundation

  • Continuing research collaboration to analyze ketone body metabolism in heart failure (Dr. Jason Dyck, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Alberta) and in multiple sclerosis brains (Dr. Christopher Power (Depts. of Medicine; Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Alberta)

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Imaging ketone body metabolism with the novel 18F-labeled ketone body [18F]FBHB

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Mattingly SJ, Wuest M, Fine EJ, Schirrmacher R, Wuest F. Synthesis and in vivo evaluation of a radiofluorinated ketone body derivative. RSC Med Chem. 2020 Feb 13;11(2):297-306. doi: 10.1039/c9md00486f. PMID: 33479637; PMCID: PMC7580772.

Imaging multiple sclerosis (MS) in brain and monitoring novel therapeutic approaches

  • Continuing research collaboration to analyze changes under multiple sclerosis in mouse brains (Dr. Christopher Power Depts. of Medicine; Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Alberta)

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Pollock NM, Fernandes JP, Woodfield J, Moussa E, Hlavay B, Branton WG, Wuest M, Mohammadzadeh N, Schmitt L, Plemel JR, Julien O, Wuest F, Power C. Gasdermin D activation in oligodendrocytes and microglia drives inflammatory demyelination in progressive multiple sclerosis. Brain Behav Immun. 2024 Jan;115:374-393. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.10.022. Epub 2023 Oct 31. PMID: 37914099.

Molecular Imaging of GLUT1 and GLUT5 in Breast Cancer:A Multitracer Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Studying Mice

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PET images of 1-[18F]FDF, 6-[18F]FDF, 1-[18F]FDAM, 2-[18F]FDG, and 6-[18F]FDG after 15 minutes (top) and 60 minutes(bottom) p.i. of 5–7 MBq of the radiotracer intoEMT6 tumor-bearing mice. Images are shown as maximum intensity projections (MAP).SUV values at 15 and 60 minutes p.i. are included as mean 6 S.E.M. from n experiments. Tumors are delineated in the images.

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mmunohistochemical staining of GLUT 5 in mouse intestine(positive control), mouse muscle, and EMT6 tumor tissue. Photos were taken using a 20 objective

  • Bouvet V, Jans HS, Wuest M, Soueidan OM, Mercer J, McEwan AJ, West FG, Cheeseman CI, Wuest F. Automated synthesis and dosimetry of 6-deoxy-6-[(18)F]fluoro-D-fructose (6-[(18)F]FDF): a radiotracer for imaging of GLUT5 in breast cancer. Am J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2014 Apr 25;4(3):248-59. Erratum in: Am J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2014 Dec 15;5(1):95.

Radiotherapy; High yield cyclotron production of a novel 133/135La theranostic pair for nuclear medicine

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A completed natBa sealed cyclotron target ready for irradiation.

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Nuclear reaction cross-section simulation data of the proton-induced nuclear reaction on 132/134/135/136/137Ba for 132/133/135L

  • Nelson, B.J.B., Wilson, J., Andersson, J.D. et al. High yield cyclotron production of a novel 133/135La theranostic pair for nuclear medicine. Sci Rep 10, 22203 (2020).

And many more...

Current Opportunities

Let's work together to achieve our goals and create something amazing!

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