Ultra-high Resolution PET of the Brain and Neck: Added Value in Clinical Diagnostics

The Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Research Group is a multidisciplinary team of physicians, physicists/engineers, and pharmacists/chemists that uses radiotracer imaging for improved diagnosis and investigation of disease mechanisms via molecular targets. A focus of the research is molecular imaging of neurodegeneration and brain disorders. The group has a GMP production facility for radiopharmaceuticals and an extensive range of preclinical and clinical imaging equipment. In August 2025, we have installed the first ultra-high-resolution (<1.5 mm) brain PET scanner in Europe, allowing unique images of the head and neck region with approximately 40 times smaller volumetric resolution compared to current techniques. The research group is a structured, international team with postdoctoral researchers where direct and thorough supervision of doctoral students is central.

Project

• The project is a prospective clinical study aiming to demonstrate the added value of ultra-high-resolution PET in clinical patients with various brain and head-neck disorders, where it is expected that more detailed spatial information will enable earlier and more accurate diagnoses. This includes dementia (such as Alzheimer’s disease), movement disorders (such as Parkinson’s disease), ALS, brain tumors (in particular small central brain tumors, such as of the brainstem and pituitary), epilepsy, as well as parathyroid and thyroid disorders, inflammation of head and neck vessels (vasculitis), and head-neck tumors.
• Patients referred for a standard-of-care indication in these domains will be asked, after the regular PET examination, to undergo an additional scan on the ultra-high-resolution scanner. Both scans will then be compared in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. Increased spatial resolution will allow, for the first time and/or with greater precision, to visualize small brain nuclei of great importance in many of these disorders, or to better detect lesions, enabling improved treatment strategies (e.g., neurosurgical or pharmaceutical).
• The doctoral candidate will be responsible for organizing and acquiring the scans, analysing the images, and preparing and writing publications including presentations at international congresses. This technique is groundbreaking, and for each of the planned domains significant added value is expected. If recruitment goes smoothly, the data may also lead to an additional second doctoral position for specific sub-domains. There will be collaboration with physicians and researchers from the referring departments (neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, endocrinology, and internal medicine).

Profile

• You preferably have a medical or biomedical master’s degree, but a discipline closely related to biomedical sciences (e.g., master’s in psychology, bioengineering, or pharmacy) is also eligible.
• You have achieved very good academic results;
• Dutch language proficiency is a strong plus given the patient contact (a minimum level of B2 must be achievable within a year for very strong non-Dutch-speaking candidates);
• You have good written and spoken command of English;
• You have a strong interest and preferably good theoretical knowledge or experience in imaging and biomedical research;
• You have good social and communication skills to work in a team and with patients;
• You are able to work accurately;
• You can also support practical work such as data acquisition and project administration, and have very good computer skills;
• Practical experience with clinical-scientific research, good clinical practice, and/or working with radiopharmaceuticals is an asset.

Offer

• An inspiring work environment where human contact and professionalism are highly valued;
• Opportunities for contact with international research groups and industry partners;
• A unique infrastructure and prospective research;
• A position for four years (funding available, although additional mandate grants should also be pursued);

Interested?

For more information, contact Prof. Dr. Koen Van Laere, tel.: +32 16 343715, E-mail: [email protected]. The vacancy may be closed early upon finding a suitable candidate.

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