© EIMI/M. Kuhlmann

Chemical Targeting Lab (Dr. Andreas Faust)

In our chemical and radiochemical laboratories, we develop new tracers for diagnostic molecular imaging using positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission tomography (SPECT), optical and photoacoustic imaging. On the one hand, we focus on specific ligands for the alarmins S100A8/S100A9; on the other hand, we work on bacteria-specific tracers based on complex carbohydrates or siderophores. Various short-lived nuclides such as the positron emitter fluorine-18 or the gamma emitter technetium-99m are used. In our workgroup we also develop absorbers for improved photoacoustic imaging.

  • Team

  • Projects

    Distribution of immune cells in the body of a mouse, imaged with optical imaging
    © S. Gran & L. Honold et al./Theranostics 2018(8)

    Immune-Image

    In this project, we develop methods for monitoring immune cells before, during and after immune treatment. Initially, we will look at these processes in animal models for different diseases – with the aim of translating the results and methods to patients mid-term enabling us to establish image-guided immunotherapies with improved efficacy in diseases such as cancer or inflammation.

    Coordinator: Albert D. Windhorst (Amsterdam University Medical Centre, the Netherlands)
    EIMI members involved as partners: Michael Schäfers, Andreas Jacobs, Andreas Faust, Sven Hermann, Friedemann Kiefer, Sabine Stötzer
    Project term: 10/2019 - 03/2026
    Project number: Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking, grant agreement No 831514

    © CRC1450 inSight

    Targeting of S100A8/A9 for imaging of inflammatory disorders

    In our CRC-project A03 “Targeting of S100A8/A9 for imaging of inflammatory disorders” we create a new S100 alarmin-based imaging toolset to monitor inflammatory responses with respect to their spatial location and temporal dynamics at various scales in living organisms. Activated monocytes and granulocytes are key to inflammatory diseases and release the alarmin S100A8/A9 in high concentrations, promoting sterile as well as infectious inflammatory processes.

    Projektleitung: Andreas Faust (EIMI), Günter Fritz (University of Hohenheim)
    Projektlaufzeit: 01/2025 - 12/2028
    Förderkennzeichen: CRC1450 - A03 | DFG Collaborative Research Centre 1450 “inSight – Multiscale imaging of organ-specific inflammation”

    Vascular graft infection with S. aureus
    © EIMI

    Metabolic targeting of bacteria through complex carbohydrates

    Life-threatening bacterial infections often have a non-specific clinical presentation. We design radiolabeled specific imaging probes based on oligosaccharides which are selectively taken up by prokaryotes and thereby optimize uptake and trapping efficiency in bacteria and metabolic stability in the blood. This will prepare for a transfer of our new bacteria tracers to future clinical diagnostics.

    Principal investigators: Andreas Faust (EIMI), Ryan Gilmour (Inst. for Organic Chemistry, WWU), Silke Niemann (Institute of Medical Microbiology, UKM)
    Project term: 01/2025 - 12/2028
    Project number: CRC1450 - A04 | DFG Collaborative Research Centre 1450 “inSight – Multiscale imaging of organ-specific inflammation”

  • Publications