USC Molecular Imaging Center

The USC Molecular Imaging Center is a comprehensive imaging program focused on the development of new radiotracers and non-radioactive biological probes for use in interdisciplinary biomedical research and imaging. To this end, our mission is to promote the use of imaging to: - Rapidly and effectively translate developments in cellular and molecular biology, chemistry, neurosciences, physics, computer sciences, engineering and instrumentation into improvements in cancer patient care, - Facilitate further advances in the understanding of the molecular basis of this disease, and - Train future investigators that will have the requisite multidisciplinary skills to effectively lead the expansion of molecular medical techniques Cyclotron Facility: The radiopharmacy production laboratory is designed to adhere to GMP conditions as required by the U.S. Pharmacopeia Chapter 823 and 21CFR part 212. This includes validation of laminar flow hot cells for sterile processing of the radiopharmaceutical end product, and individual hot cells to contain the automated processing modules. These improvements allow us to efficiently and safely handle large amounts of radiopharmaceuticals. The improved quality control sections have dedicated instruments to test the final products before being released for human use (i.e. HPLCs, gas chromatographs, gamma spectrometer, pyrogen testing, sterility incubators, etc.). These capabilities provide a more efficient and safer environment to produce radiopharmaceutical products for clinical imaging program as well as support our ongoing research program.