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The UCL Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Facility facilitates medical research by providing bespoke imaging agents to UCL, UCL Hospitals and partner institutions in South East England.
We currently focus on the production of fluorine-18 labelled radiotracers for imaging with positron emission tomography (PET), and the aseptic filling of fluid paths for hyperpolarised magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Production of PET tracers
Fluorine-18 is amongst the most frequently used positron emitters used for medical imaging due to its near ideal physicochemical properties. With the aim to make fluorine-18 labelled PET tracers widely available for clinical research we work on the Trasis AllinOne platform to manufacture our products. Following MHRA licencing of the GMP Facility in 2017, we routinely produce fluorine-18 labelled DPA-714, Fluorodopa, D4-Choline and MK-6240 to facilitate clinical studies at Higher Education Institutions in London and South East England.
Filling of fluid paths for hyperpolarized MRI
Hyperpolarized MRI is an emerging molecular imaging technique for assessing perfusion and metabolism in vivo. By injecting carbon-13 labelled substrates biological systems can be monitored in real time. The results may allow prediction of disease progression. At the UCL GMP Facility, we have developed a protocol for the aseptic filling of fluid paths. The kits containing carbon-13 labelled pyruvate can readily be used to manufacture hyperpolarized injectables at our partner clinical centres at UCL Hospitals and Nottingham University.
References: Tran, Br J Radiol 2019 | Abeyakoon, Br J Radiol 2019
