Quantitative PET techniques using novel radiopharmaceuticals
Dr. Carson's research focuses on the development and application of mathematical techniques for the study of human beings and non-human primates with Positron Emission Tomography (PET). His specific research is concentrated in 1) New algorithms for PET image reconstruction, 2) Development of mathematical models for novel radiopharmaceuticals, 3) Use of receptor-binding ligands to measure drug occupancy and dynamic changes in neurotransmitters, and 4) applications of PET tracers in clinical populations and preclinical models of disease, including neuropsychiatric disorders, diabetes, and cancer. In particular, he has pioneered the development of in vivo synaptic imaging in human and animals with SV2A-PET. This technology has been applied in healthy humans and in patients with epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, depression, substance abuse, and HIV.