Development of Novel Clinical Imaging Biomarkers

Bio-Imaging Technologies Medical and Scientific Leaders Contribute to Development of Novel Clinical Imaging Biomarkers to Elucidate Relationship of Type 1 Cannabinoid Receptor Availability in the Human Brain to Novelty-Seeking Temperament using PET technology which has been published in American Medical Association’s top-ranking journal Archives of General Psychiatry February 2009 issue.

Newtown, PA – February 28th, 2009 – Bio-Imaging Technologies announced today that Igor Grachev, MD, PhD, Vice President of Business Development and Clinical Affairs, US, is a contributing author of an original article published with the American Medical Association in their Archives of General Psychiatry Publication in the February 2009 issue.

Using PET Imaging and the Cloninger Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) in 47 healthy subjects, standard uptake (SUV) images were coregistered to the subject’s MRI for regional analysis using statistical parametric mapping (SPM2). The objective of the study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between human temperament traits and regional cerebral CB1R availability. The results of the study showed that novelty seeking was inversely correlated with global CB1R availability with the most significant correlation in the left amygdale.

SPMaps showing inverse correlation of the novelty-seeking (extravagance)
with type 1 cannabinoid receptor availability (p<0.05, corrected for multiple comparisons)

The conclusion of the study showed that low baseline cerebral CB1R availability is related to a high novelty-seeking personality, in particular to extravagance, most pronounced in the amygdale. Further investigation of the functional role of the CB1R is warranted in pathological behavior known to be strongly related to novelty seeking, such as addiction and eating disorders.

Group comparison of average CB1 availability maps of 10 highest vs. 10 lowest scorers
on the novelty-seeking (extravagance) of the TCI. SUV indicates standardized uptake value.

Dr. Igor Grachev, MD, PhD, is Vice President of Business Development and Clinical Affairs, US at Bio-Imaging Technologies and former Senior Director at Merck. He has over 20 years of clinical trial experience in Academia and Pharmaceutical Industry.

Read the complete article.

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