Functional and molecular imaging modalities are state-of-art technologies for in vivo assessment of pathology, and important tools in basic medical research. Nuclear medicine can facilitate early diagnosis and evaluation of therapy response. Especially, molecular radionuclide therapy allows for quantitative theranostic imaging and dose-effect evaluation.

The group collaborates closely with the Department for Nuclear Medicine in establishing novel methods and radiopharmaceuticals. Due to the recent advancement in nuclear medicine technology, medical physics play a significant role in the cross-disciplinary research team. The research group is responsible for quantitative measurements and advanced image analyses in various clinical studies.

The group focuses on

• Dosimetry and treatment planning for molecular radiotherapies (theranostics)
• Quantitative PET imaging and pharmacokinetic modelling
• Implementation of novel methods and processing techniques for nuclear medicine imaging

• Theranostics: Dose-effects for a novel 177-Lu based treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority Research Grant, 2017-2020), Simulation tools and quantitative 90-Y PET/CT for Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority Innovation Grant), Dosimetry-based treatment planning of 131-I therapy, Theranostic radiopharmaceuticals for metastatic cancer -focusing on targeted alpha therapy (South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority Grant, 2020-2022)
   
• Oncological assessment: Quantitative PET parameters as predictors for patient outcome (part of different lymphoma trials), development of radiomics feature software, novel PET tracers for  multiple myeloma assessments, and various technical projects related to image reconstruction and analyses
   
• Neuroimaging: 18F-Flutemetamol PET/CT for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease

Contact information
Group Leader Caroline Stokke, PhD, Assoc. Prof., Dep of Diagnostic Physics, carsto@ous-hf.no, (0047) 98685214