On February 17, Anderson speaks on “Education in imaging sciences: The next frontier.” The presentation is part of a session called “Frontiers in biological imaging: From cells to humans.” The session runs from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Carolyn Anderson, associate professor of radiology and of molecular biology and pharmacology, is implementing the first U.S. graduate program in imaging sciences to meet the growing need to train scientists for the next generation of advancements in the field. Future innovations in imaging sciences will require highly multidisciplinary skills and training covering various aspects, including biology, chemistry, physics and engineering, presenting a challenge to educators.
The graduate program in imaging sciences is designed to train students across various disciplines and give them a broad base of knowledge through the fundamentals in imaging sciences, but also give them an emphasis in one area.
In her 16 years at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Anderson has focused on developing, evaluating and applying radiopharmaceuticals that contain metal radionuclides for diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy of cancer. She is also interested in further developing positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Another major area of research in her lab is developing imaging agents targeting the process of cancer metastasis. She and other researchers are investigating radiolabeled inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases for imaging of tumors to predict metastatic potential and radiolabeled integrin ligands for targeting bone metastases.
Washington University School of Medicine’s full-time and volunteer faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals. The School of Medicine is one of the leading medical research, teaching and patient care institutions in the nation, currently ranked third in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.