Neuroimaging: Anything to do with neurotherapeutics?

The Future of Neurology

“…Other colleagues have written eloquently about the changing role of neurologists (Engstrom and Hauser, 1994 ; Bradley, 2000 ; Freeman and Vatz, 2010 ), and the fundamental changes facing Child Neurology (Ridel and Gilbert, 2010 ). A continuous stream of advances in basic neuroscience research, gene identification, neurogenomics, cutting-edge genetic techniques, neurodiagnostic tools including advanced neuroimaging technologies (Masdeu and Bakshi, 2005 ), and longitudinal biomarkers, coupled with new treatment modalities and paradigms for neurologic disease, suggests increased demands on available practitioners. In view of the growing aging population, associated with declines in infant mortality and treatment of infectious disease, more people will suffer from age related neurologic disorders such as stroke, dementia, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and autoimmune disorders (Engstrom and Hauser, 1994 ; Bradley, 2000 ; Freeman and Vatz, 2010 ; Weiner, 2007 ).…”

Neuroimaging Studies Evaluating Effective Therapies for High-Grade Glioma

“…36 The ability to visually monitor targeting agents pharmacokinetics, biodistribution and tumour specific uptake in vivo allows for the early screening of novel therapeutic drugs, for patients stratification and for evaluating potential for radionuclide targeted therapy. 37 However, despite the increasingly-recognised important role of PET imaging in personalised clinical decision-making in neuro-oncology, there is evidence of an insufficient number and inadequate rational design of clinical trials evaluating the theranostic role of PET imaging. 36 In order to translate this emerging role of PET in the clinical management of gliomas, high-quality data from well-designed, large-size clinical trials that include randomization and control arms are needed.…”