Poster presentations during the EMIM 2025
During the annual European Molecular Imaging Meeting (EMIM) in Bilbao, seven researchers of the Immune-Image consortium presented their promising research during the poster presentations. In this article, we will give a brief summary of each presentation.
Identification of non-competitive lead nanobodies for the development of PET tracers targeting PD-1
Presenting author: Melinda Badenhorst
PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint therapy is efficient, but not all patients respond equally. Assessment of PD-1 expression before, during and after treatment would be possible using positron emission tomography (PET) if a suitable radiotracer is available. Currently only a handful of PET tracers for PD-1 are available [1-3] and cannot be used during treatment since the level of target occupation by the drug is unknown. We aim to develop a nanobody PET tracer that binds PD-1 outside the binding site with PD-L1 or anti-PD-1 antibodies.
Read more here.
Multiscale Co-Evaluation of the tumor microenvironment using immuno-PET
Presenting author: Salvador Castaneda-Vega
The evaluation of immunotracer distribution within tumors is challenging due partly to the tumor microenviroment (TME) heterogeneity, immune cell infiltration patterns, and characteristics of the radiotracer [1]. We developed an automated analysis that focuses on the infiltration of immune cells into the core of the tumor assessed using 64Cu-αCD206-PET, which targets tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and phagocytes. In addition, we demonstrate that the identical automated analysis can be applied for immunohistochemistry (IHC) targeting the identical immune cell populations.
Read more here.
Comparison of a NIR fluorescence gene reporter with luciferase for cell tracking
Presenting author: Eliane Brechbühl
Cell therapies are being used in various clinical areas, including regenerative medicine, oncology, and autoimmune diseases [1, 2]. However, challenges remain, such as the complex nature of cell behaviour in vivo, limited tracking capabilities, and ensuring precise delivery and function of transplanted cells. Therefore, a reliable, high-resolution, non-invasive, and sensitive imaging method is needed. Here we compare OATP1B3, which mediates cell uptake of ICG, a clinically approved NIR dye [3], with luciferase for in vivo imaging using NIR fluorescence and bioluminescence imaging.
Read more here.
In vivo PET/CT tracking of CD8+ T cells with [89Zr]Zr-df-IAB22M2C by PET/CT in a humanised mouse model of acute experimental ulcerative colitis
Presenting author: Julia Baguna Torres
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is partly driven by abnormal CD8+ T cell activity, which disrupts the colonic mucosal barrier and sustains chronic inflammation after CD4+ T cell recruitment1. Currently, identifying inflamed UC regions requires invasive procedures like colonoscopy or biopsy analysis2. ImmunoPET offers a noninvasive way to track the in vivo behaviour of CD8+ T cells in gut inflammation, enabling monitoring of disease severity, progression, and treatment efficacy. Here, [89Zr]Zr-Df-IAB22M2C, a CD8-specific minibody, was used to track CD8+ T cells in a humanised mouse model of acute UC.
Read more here.
Prediction and Follow-up of Immunotherapy Responses by Imaging of CD8+ T-cell Dynamics using a Human CD8β-targeting Nanobody-based Tracer.
Presenting author: Tessa de Pauw
Immunotherapy has transformed the field of oncology treatment, yet variability in patient responses limits its effectiveness1. As CD8+ T-cells are believed to be the main effector cells during anti-cancer responses, non-invasive nuclear imaging of these cells could provide valuable insights for predicting responsiveness to (immuno)therapy2–4. In this study, we have non-invasively imaged CD8+ T-cell dynamics to predict or follow-up immunotherapy responses in subcutaneous and orthotopic tumor models using a previously developed nanobody-based human CD8β-targeting immunotracer5.
Read more here.
Whole-body in vivo assessment of CD8+ T cell biodistribution by immuno-PET imaging with 64Cu-hCD8β nanobody in a non-human primate model of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Presenting author: Mohit Saxena
COVID-19 has been one of the leading cause of mortality due to immune system dysregulation of T-cells and improper crosstalk between cellular and humoral adaptive immunity. Among T-cells, CD8 T-cells are key players in the cell-mediated immune response to COVID-19 infection. Thus understanding CD8 T-cell immune response and its associated immunological memory is important for developing new therapy or vaccine candidates. Developing non-invasive in vivo imaging methods becomes crucial to track and quantify the change in dynamics of distribution of CD8 T-cells, as most T-cells reside in tissues.
Read more here.
Welcome to Spain! An Insight into the Spanish Imaging Sciences Scene
Presenting author: Raul Herance
Welcome to Spain! Learn more about what happens here in MI research and experience the excellent speaker line-up. You may find even a partner for your next collaborative project.
Read more here.
PRO 01 | Imaging of Immunotherapies
Session chair: Wouter Driessen; Nick Devoogt
PRO 01 is organized by “Immune-Image – Specific Imaging of Immune Cell Dynamics using novel tracer strategies”.
Read more here.