CZI Imaging Scientist award

Background

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) Imaging Scientist award

The primary goal of the CZI Imaging Scientist program is to increase interactions between biologists and imaging technology experts.

This can be achieved by enabling collaborative work between imaging scientists and experimental biologists as well as development and dissemination of imaging training resources and courses.

The award to Dr Adriana Tavares, University of Edinburgh

Dr Adriana Tavares is a Senior Research Fellow in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging and Head of the Preclinical PET Facility at the University of Edinburgh.

Her group works on developing new PET biomarkers of human disease as well as new methods of analysis of complex PET images. She has over 70 peer reviewed publications and routinely shares her research findings at local, national and international events.

Dr Tavares has been a member of the molecular imaging committee of the Scottish Imaging Network: A Platform for Scientific Excellent (SINAPSE) since 2014 and was recently invited to co-lead the preclinical sub-group of the recently formed UK PET Network. She is the founder of the PET is Wonderful meetings, focused on enhancing vitality and promoting visibility of the PET research ongoing in Edinburgh, the UK and the world.

In this CZI award titled “Kinetic Modelling and Analysis of Total-Body PET Imaging Datasets”, Dr Tavares proposes to develop new methods for analysis of complex PET images to derive a whole-body “molecular fingerprint” unique to each individual. She will also develop teaching opportunities to teach the next generation of imaging biologists what PET techniques are and how to use them to support their research.

The award is for up to 5 years starting on the 1^st October 2022.