BETAIMAG Research Group

Development of Imaging Techniques for Monitoring Beta-Cell Mass Changes and Islet Regeneration

The project aims to develop a new generation contrast agent for noninvasive imaging of beta-cells in vivo for the detection of diabetes, monitoring therapy in animal and clinical trials, and identification of diabetes pathogenesis. The new agent will be created by conjugation of a beta-cell specific marker with nanoparticles for application in MRI and photoacoustic imaging (PAT) and with isotopes for application with PET and SPECT. The marker has been found to bind exclusively to living, insulin-prodicung beta-cells and is therefore appropriate for functional imaging. The new technology will be applied for the monitoring of islet transplantation, beta-cell mass changes in disease and therapy, and islet regeneration. The project is scheduled for a period of 4 years and requires a budget of 4.5 million euros. The consortium consists of 6 academic centers and 2 medium-sized enterprises.

If you are interested in this project and if you would like to learn more about the details, do not hesitate to contact us by mail at betaimag(at)soc-bdr.org.