Autoimmune diseases affect most tissues and organs and encompass a wide variety of pathologies. Imaging biomarkers of autoimmune disease progression are as varied as the pathologies. Anatomical and functional imaging using US, CT, and MRI can provide qualitative and in some cases quantitative assessment of structural changes in tissues and organs after symptoms occur and degeneration has progressed. Nuclear medicine imaging methods such as PET and SPECT, using radiolabeled ligands targeted for specific receptors provide the greatest sensitivity and specificity for progression of autoimmune disease and response to targeted therapies. Imaging methods targeting T cell metabolism have the potential for providing molecular imaging biomarkers to assess immunotherapy response.
Medpace has experience and expertise in autoimmune imaging using conventional and molecular imaging methods using radiopharmaceuticals targeted for specific diseases and tissues. In prior studies our physicians and scientists have designed and carried out clinical trials using quantitative assessment criteria for response to therapy based on these techniques. MCL nuclear medicine certified technologists and physicians have carried out immunotherapy trials using PET imaging with 11C, 18F PET, as well as SPECT studies using 131I, 77Ga, 99mTc and 177Lu.
Medpace Core Lab provides comprehensive central imaging services including site assessment, instrument/site qualification and training and expert evaluation. Medpace has expertise across medical imaging modalities to support endpoints for studies. Our expertise includes but is not limited to:
- Qualitative visualization solutions directly implemented in our ClinTrak® Imaging system
- Serial measurement of synovitis volume and bone marrow oedema using semi-automated structural contouring
- Application of immuno-therapy response criteria in oncology trials (iRECIST, irRC, Lugano, RECIL, PERCIST)
- Molecular imaging with targeted agents for PET, SPECT and MRI.
- Quantitative assessment of disease progression base on Standardized Uptake Values (SUV) for radiopharmaceutical studies.