PiW-CZI PET teaching materials
The PET is Wonderful (PiW)-Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) teaching materials will teach the next generation of imaging biologists what PET techniques are and how to use them to support their research.

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- Links will be activated October 2022
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- Links will be activated October 2022
Free online teaching materials (supported by Edinburgh Imaging Academy & PET is Wonderful network)
- A collection of lectures on PET technology has been put together with the help from Edinburgh Imaging Academy for this CZI award.
Learning objectives
Lecture 1
- Title: History: Past to present
- Description: Historical perspective through to modern imaging departments
- Author(s): Prof. Andrew Farrall
- Learning objectives:
- Outline the historical development of imaging
- List the techniques used in modern imaging departments
- Identify which techniques do or do not use ionizing radiation
- Distinguish between techniques which use ionizing radiation
Lecture 2
- Title: Terminology and orientation
- Description: Becoming familiar with how radiology looks at the body
- Author(s): Prof. Andrew Farrall
- Learning objectives:
- Use and interpret radiological orientations, directions and convention
Lecture 3
- Title: Anatomy basics
- Description: A look at common anatomical landmarks and features
- Author(s): Prof. Andrew Farrall
- Learning objectives:
- Identify common anatomical landmarks and features including:
- Anatomical landmarks of the head surface anatomy
- Skull features
- Lobes, fissures and sulci
- Grey and white matter
- Arterial supplies to the brain
Lecture 4
- Title: Orientation to body imaging
- Description: A look at common body imaging descriptors and features
- Author(s): Dr. Michael Jackson, Prof. Andrew Farrall
- Learning objectives:
- Recognise the three conventional anatomical planes: axial, coronal and sagittal as they relate to the body
- Appreciate the direct relevance of these planes to cross-sectional imaging
- Be aware of the concept of the anatomical position
- Understand the terms proximal and distal in different settings
- Be familiar with the meaning of the anatomical terms dorsal, ventral and cranio-caudal
Lecture 1
- Title: Imaging systems
- Description: The imaging process, PSF, deconvolution, artefacts & noise
- Author(s): Prof. Peter Hoskins
- Learning objectives:
- State the imaging process
- Define ‘imaged quantity’ & point spread function
- Describe the imaging process
- Discuss deconvolution and artefacts
- Compare random noise & structured noise (speckle)
- Demonstrate the detection of lesions
- Illustrate effects of contrast, noise, spatial resolution
Lecture 2
- Title: Images
- Description: Digital image formation, key features; spatial/intensity resolution, resizing and brightness/contrast control
- Author(s): Dr. Tom MacGillivray
- Learning objectives:
- Describe how a digital image is formed
- Identify the key features of digital images
- Explain spatial and intensity resolution
- Outline how a digital image is resized
- Define brightness and contrast
Lecture 3
- Title: Image processing basics
- Description: Purpose, key operations, 3D visualisation of medical data and image registration
- Author(s): Dr. Tom MacGillivray
- Learning objectives:
- Outline the purpose of digital image processing
- Identify key image processing operations
- Differentiate between global & neighbourhood operations
- Describe 3D visualisation of medical image data
- State how image registration is implemented
Lecture 4
- Title: Image perception
- Description: Anatomy of the eye and vision performance
- Author(s): Prof. Peter Hoskins
- Learning objectives:
- Define the relevant anatomy of the eye
- Compare night and day vision
- Demonstrate log response in brightness discrimination
- State the adaptation range and Weber ratio
- Specify grey level discrimination
- Describe mach bands edge enhancement
- Describe the point spread function of the eye
- Evaluate a model of image perception
Lecture 1
- Title: Fundamentals of PET imaging
- Description: Key principles associated with Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
- Author(s): Dr. Adriana Tavares
- Learning objectives:
- Define PET imaging
- Explain the radiotracer principle
- Describe the physics & fundamental principles associated with PET imaging
Lecture 2
- Title: Acquisition & reconstruction of PET images
- Description: The different acquisition & reconstruction methods in PET
- Author(s): Dr. Adriana Tavares
- Learning objectives:
- Identify & describe different acquistion protocols commonly used in clinical PET imaging
- Explain basic principles of PET image reconstruction
Lecture 3
- Title: Principles of PET quality control (QC)
- Description: An outline of the importance of PET QC with some examples
- Author(s): Dr. Adriana Tavares
- Learning objectives:
- Explain the importance of QC programmes in PET
- Identify & describe routine QC procedures in PET
Lecture 4
- Title: Micro-PET and micro-SPECT imaging
- Description: Preclinical PET, SPECT imaging, and examples of applications in preclinical research
- Author(s): Dr. Adriana Tavares, Dr. Alison Fletcher
- Learning objectives:
- Define molecular imaging - PET and SPECT
- Describe physics principles associated with molecular imaging
- State main applications of PET and SPECT imaging
- Explain the radiotracer principle
- Identify & describe key aspects associated with preclinical PET and SPECT imaging
Lecture 1
- Title: The cyclotron
- Description: Generating radioisotopes - from source to target
- Author(s): Prof. AJ Farrall, Dr. Christophe Lucatelli
- Learning objectives:
- Describe the cyclotron’s role in radiotracer generation
- List key principles which underpin how a cyclotron works
Lecture 2
- Title: Radiochemistry
- Description: Overview of radiotracer compositions & applications
- Author(s): Prof. AJ Farrall, Dr. Christophe Lucatelli
- Learning objectives:
- List several radiotracers
- Discuss radiotracer applications
Lecture 1 - under development following the PiW 2022 meeting; launching Jan 2023
- Title: The process of developing new PET radiotracers
- Description: TBA
- Author(s): Steve Archibald
- Learning objectives:
- TBA
Lecture 2 - under development following the PiW 2022 meeting; launching Jan 2023
- Title: PET radiotracer design - metabolic considerations
- Description: Background to & examples of radiotracers which use the metabolism & the influence of metabolites on quantitative protein imaging.
- Author(s): Vic Pike
- Learning objectives:
- TBA
Lecture 1 - under development following the PiW 2022 meeting; launching Jan 2023
- Title: Principles and applications of PET kinetic modelling
- Description: TBA
- Author(s): Rich Carson
- Learning objectives:
- TBA
Lecture 2 - under development following the PiW 2022 meeting; launching Jan 2023
- Title: Reference tissue models and other simplified methods of PET quantification
- Description: TBA
- Author(s): Adriaan Lammertsma
- Learning objectives:
- TBA
Lecture 3 - under development following the PiW 2022 meeting; launching Jan 2023
- Title: Quantitative brain PET imaging
- Description: TBA
- Author(s): Vesna Sossi
- Learning objectives:
- TBA
Lecture 4 - under development following the PiW 2022 meeting; launching Jan 2023
- Title: In Vivo PET imaging understood from the perspective of in vitro receptor binding - part 1
- Description: TBA
- Author(s): Robert Innis
- Learning objectives:
- TBA
Lecture 5 - under development following the PiW 2022 meeting; launching Jan 2023
- Title: In Vivo PET imaging understood from the perspective of in vitro receptor binding - part 2
- Description: TBA
- Author(s): Robert Innis
- Learning objectives:
- TBA
Lecture 1 - under development following the PiW 2022 meeting; launching Jan 2023
- Title: Molecular imaging of brain connectivity
- Description: TBA
- Author(s): Igor Yakushev
- Learning objectives:
- TBA
Lecture 2 - under development following the PiW 2022 meeting; launching Jan 2023
- Title: Radiomics and artificial intelligence applied to PET imaging: principles and applications
- Description: TBA
- Author(s): Irene Buvat
- Learning objectives:
- TBA
Click here to find out more about the background of the CZI Imaging Scientist award, and more training opportunities available.
Relevant links
- Dr Adriana Tavares
- Edinburgh Imaging Academy
- CZI Imaging Scientist award & more training opportunities
- University of Edinburgh
- Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI)
- CZI Imaging Scientist Awardee Dr Adriana Tavares
- SINAPSE
- PET is Wonderful
- UK PET Network
- 08 Aug 22. PiW deadline & training opportunities
- 04 Jan 21. CZI Imaging Scientist Award
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Please link to the short URL for the PiW-CZI teaching materials: