Located on the University of Pittsburgh Main Campus, the PET Research Center benefits from its central location to the major clinical and research activities of the institution. Presently, the center comprises a dedicated full time research staff of approximately 25, including ten full-time Radiology faculty members. The staff also includes nuclear medicine fellows, post-docs and radiochemistry technicians. The PET Research Center maintains an array of dedicated research scanners and equipment. Although the emphasis of the research facilities is on neuroimaging initiatives, a growing component of research in oncology and other systemic disorders continues to diversify its research efforts.

Performs a variety of independent and complex laboratory work and experiments. Analyzes and interprets data, compiles results, and prepares reports. Maintains inventory, ordering, and logs. Writes manuscripts and grant proposals and prepares data visualizations.

Performs a variety of independent and complex laboratory work and experiments. Analyzes and interprets data, compiles results, and prepares reports. Maintains inventory, ordering, and logs. Writes manuscripts and grant proposals and prepares data visualizations.

Radiolabel routine radiopharmaceuticals. Perform quality control tests associated with the preparation of radiopharmaceuticals. These tests include determination of sterility, apyrogenicity, chemical purity, radiochemical purity, radionuclidic purity, and specific activity. Perform Analysis and quantification of radiolabeled metabolites in plasma samples following the injection of short-lived radiotracers in PET studies. The metabolite analyses involve the separation of plasma from whole blood, fractionation of various radiolabeled metabolites in the plasma using solvent extraction techniques, and identification of metabolites using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), or gas chromatography (GC) methods. Conduct identification, separations, and quantitation of compounds and radionuclides utilizing HPLC, TLC, GC, NMR, UV, IR, and gamma-ray spectroscopy.