Faculty & Staff
Satish K. Chitneni, Ph.D.
Associate Professor in Radiology
About
Department/Division
Radiology
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Associate Professor in Radiology, Radiology 2019
Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences 2017
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute, Duke Cancer Institute 2013
Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
Ph.D. 2007, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium)2007
Duke Appointment History
Assistant Professor of Radiology2018 - 2019
Assistant Professor of Radiology2011 - 2018
Interests & Expertise
Overview
The major focus of our research has been on the design, development and evaluation of novel radiotracers based on small molecules for imaging specific molecular targets using positron emission tomography (PET). The imaging targets are usually enzymes, cell surface receptors or transporters that are strongly implicated in or markers of diseases. Fluorine-18, which has a half-life of about 110 min, is ideally suited for radiolabeling of small molecules, and permits PET imaging studies for up to 4 h after injection in vivo. Other radioisotopes of interest for PET radiotracer development include carbon-11 and iodine-124, the latter one has a longer half-life (4.2 days) and enables imaging for up to 1 week after injection of the labeled probe. Another major area of interest include the use of PET imaging for evaluation of novel therapeutics in preclinical models of diseases.