Peter S. Conti, MD, PhD
Peter S. Conti, MD, PhD, Professor of Radiology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Biomedical Engineering, and Director of the Molecular Imaging Center at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, has been named the 2016 recipient of the prestigious Paul C. Aebersold Award. Dr. Conti was presented the award by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) during its Annual Meeting, held on June 11–15 in San Diego.
The award is named for Paul C. Aebersold—a pioneer in the biologic and medical application of radioactive materials and the first director of the Atomic Energy Commission’s Division of Isotope Development. It recognizes outstanding achievement in basic science applied to nuclear medicine.
“Dr. Conti’s innovative research has advanced the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. He is a pioneer in the development of clinical applications of positron-emission tomography,” stated Gary L. Dillehay, MD, FACNM, FACR, Chair of the SNMMI Committee on Awards and Past President of the Society. “His research includes the development of specific PET radiopharmaceuticals for imaging cancers and other disease processes, as well as the development of radiotracers for gene therapy.”
Work in Oncologic Imaging
A tenured professor at the University of Southern California, Dr. Conti has served as Director of the university’s Molecular Imaging Center (formerly the Positron Imaging Science Center and Clinic) since its inception in 1991. His research focuses on development of novel diagnostic imaging agents for oncology applications. He pioneered the use of PET imaging in the understanding and characterization of cancer metabolism and gene expression, and he has focused on the discovery and clinical translation of novel PET imaging agents for in vivo cancer diagnosis, evaluation of metastatic disease potential, and assessment of response to therapy.
Dr. Conti is a Past President of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and remains active in the society (now called the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging), serving on a number of committees, including government and regulatory affairs related to the development of molecular imaging technology and its applications in medicine. ■
