Since the days of Galileo, imaging has illuminated the path of scientific discovery, allowing us to see beyond what was once thought possible. Recognized as one of the greatest engineering achievements of the 20th century by the National Academy of Engineering, imaging continues to evolve in ways that transform our understanding of biology. At EMIL, we are pushing these boundaries even further by merging diverse imaging techniques and technologies to map complex biological processes within individual cells and entire organs. Our goal is to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of pathophysiological disorders—reducing the immense social and economic impacts of disease management. Through our innovative, integrated imaging approaches, we aim to lay the foundation for personalized disease prevention, advanced diagnostics, precise risk assessment, and targeted cellular therapies.

Theme One: Noninvasive Monitoring of Angiogenesis

Imagine a world where we could unlock the mechanisms behind angiogenesis—the remarkable process of forming new blood vessels. This phenomenon plays a critical role in common conditions like myocardial ischemia, coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and even cancer. Around the globe, leading academic institutions are exploring therapeutic strategies to stimulate angiogenesis through gene therapy and stem cells. Yet, despite encouraging animal study results, clinical trials in CAD and PAD have yielded disappointing outcomes, showing no clear benefits over placebos.

This is where our research steps in. Noninvasive imaging approaches to track such vital biological processes remain largely unexplored. At EMIL, we are pioneering multimodal imaging strategies that combine nuclear imaging (PET, SPECT, X-ray CT) and optical imaging (fluorescence and luminescence) to probe the cardiovascular intricacies of PAD and other pathologies. Our aim is to noninvasively monitor and better understand angiogenesis.

Currently, we are focused on the development, radiosynthesis, and characterization of cRGD-peptide constructs—powerful tools that allow us to trace angiogenic processes in preclinical models of PAD and post-infarct myocardium in diabetic contexts. Through these advancements, we are pushing the boundaries of cardiovascular imaging, shedding new light on angiogenesis, and setting the stage for transformative breakthroughs in cardiovascular health.

Theme Two: Imaging the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End-products (RAGE)

The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) is a cell membrane receptor with an immunoglobulin-like structure and multiple isoforms, allowing it to interact with various endogenous and exogenous ligands. Ligand binding to RAGE initiates complex signaling pathways that produce free radicals, such as reactive nitric oxide and oxygen species, and promote cell proliferation and immune-inflammatory responses.

RAGE plays a significant role in the progression of conditions like diabetes, chronic inflammation, tumor growth, and endothelial dysfunction. In pathological states, the accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) leads to elevated RAGE expression, amplifying its influence in these diseases. Given the importance of the RAGE/AGE axis across multiple pathologies, modulating RAGE expression or activation, as well as AGE levels, has become a promising therapeutic strategy. However, despite the critical role of RAGE, there remains an urgent need for noninvasive molecular imaging techniques that can accurately measure RAGE in vivo. Such techniques would be invaluable in validating RAGE and its ligands as biomarkers and in developing targeted therapies.

At EMIL, we are advancing this field by developing nanoparticle-based and peptide-based constructs labeled with radioisotopes or fluorescent markers. These innovative tools enable noninvasive tracking of the RAGE/AGE axis through PET-CT and optical imaging, positioning our research at the forefront of molecular imaging for RAGE-related pathologies.