Contact

Dr. Reik Löser

Research Associate
Radio­pharma­ceutical and Chemical Biology
r.loeserAthzdr.de
Phone: +49 351 260 3658
+49 351 260 4070

Dr. Markus Laube

Research Associate
Radio­pharma­ceutical and Chemical Biology
m.laubeAthzdr.de
Phone: +49 351 260 2810
+49 351 260 3917
+49 351 260 4070

Prof. Dr. Jens Pietzsch

Head Radio­pharma­ceutical and Chemical Biology
j.pietzschAthzdr.de
Phone: +49 351 260 2622

Radiotracer and Drug Development

Research of this group is devoted to the chemical and radiochemical development of novel radiotracers for extracellular and intracellular targets playing an important role for cancer, such as transglutaminase-2, cyclooxygenase-2 and cathepsin B. For this purpose, we hold expertise in the synthesis and in vitro evaluation of novel biologically active molecules to select the most promising compounds for further developments as well as the synthesis of precursor molecules suitable for radiolabeling. This comprises the application of the entire methodological repertoire of organic chemistry and radiochemistry. Furthermore, biochemical methods are used to study target binding and to obtain insight into the pharmacokinetic properties of potential tracer compounds. Our key competence and peculiar interest is the radiolabeling with the positron emitting nuclides fluorine-18, carbon-11, copper-61/64/67 and other radionuclides including the optimization of radiosyntheses and upscaling to fully automated and remotely controlled procedures allowing for handling of high amounts of activity. In this regard we are interested in the development of novel radiotracers and innovative (radio)synthetic strategies to set the radiochemical basis for successful tracer development.

Recent key publications

Projects (multicenter)

  • Development of carborane-based COX-2 inhibitors for theranostic approaches (DFG; cooperation with Hey-Hawkins group, Universität Leipzig)

Research initiatives

  • Theranostic Targeting of Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2): ⇒ open Special Issue in Molecules (MDPI)

Further publications on our hypotheses and approaches