Posts by Peter Caravan, PhD
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Translational Research in Radiology: the Clinical Potential of Molecular Imaging of Pulmonary Fibrosis
Peter Caravan, PhD, and Sydney Montesi, MD, discuss the potential of molecular imaging of pulmonary fibrosis for managing patients with interstitial lung disease and other clinical applications.
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Fibrin-Targeted PET/CMR Highly Accurate for Detecting Thrombosis
In a first-in-human study, researchers at the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging show positron emission tomography/cardiac magnetic resonance with a novel fibrin-binding radiotracer facilitates detection of acute to subacute left atrial appendage thrombi in patients with atrial fibrillation with 100% sensitivity.
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New Molecular Imaging Tool Detects Pulmonary Fibrosis
Massachusetts General Hospital researchers use novel PET probe to find type I collagen and identify disease activity in pulmonary fibrosis.
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Review: Advances in MRI Technologies for Chronic Liver Diseases
New functional and molecular MRI technologies are expected to improve the detection, staging, prognosis and treatment monitoring of chronic liver diseases.
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Molecular MRI Useful for Assessing Treatment Response in Rat Model of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
Molecular MRI was more accurate than the current state of the art both in detecting disease earlier in an animal model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and in monitoring treatment response.
Biography
Peter Caravan, PhD, is co-director of the Institute for Innovation in Imaging (I3) at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Associate Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School. He leads a multidisciplinary and translational molecular imaging lab (the Caravan Lab) focused on the invention of novel molecular probes and their broad applications in cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal and hepatic diseases, as well as in cancers. His research spans novel chemistry technologies from advanced MRI and PET imaging in animal models to applications in patient populations. He holds Investigational New Drug (IND) applications for a fibrin-targeted PET tracer and a collagen-targeted PET tracer that are currently being evaluated in 6 clinical trials. He has invented molecular probes specific to fibrogenesis, acidosis, inflammation and thrombosis, as well as gadolinium-free MR contrast agents.
Dr. Caravan received a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of British Columbia. Following postdoctoral work at the EPFL (Switzerland), he spent 9 years at Epix Pharmaceuticals developing tissue-specific and responsive MRI contrast agents, one of which, gadofosveset, was approved by the FDA and the EMA. He co-invented EP-2104R, which was the first molecularly targeted MRI contrast agent to enter clinical trials. Since joining Mass General in 2007, he has been continuously funded by the NIH.
Mass General Imaging
For over 100 years, the Department of Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital has pioneered imaging technology to improve human health. Today, our researchers develop powerful new ways to diagnose and treat many diseases. From the lab to the clinic, our community of radiologists and researchers brings advances directly to our patients.