Pictures of the Future Fall 2008

Early Detection of Diseases

Trends: From Molecules to Man
From genes and proteins to cells, tissues and our entire organism, scientists are in the process of piecing together a systems view of how we work. As they do so, they are linking the results of laboratory tests to diagnostic images, injecting the resulting knowledge into advanced decision-support systems, and devising strategies for early detection and targeted treatments
^{to the trends}

Imaging: The Future of Medical Imaging
Medical imaging is helping to detect diseases earlier than ever before. On tap are infrared-based systems that pinpoint abnormal tissues and cells, blood tests that detect traces of cancer proteins, research that is zeroing in on imaging the first signs of Alzheimer’s, and strategies for accelerating the process of discovering new drugs
^imaging

Interview: Detecting Cancer Cells with Light
John V. Frangioni M.D., PhD, an Associate Professor of Medicine and Associate Professor of Radiology at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, in Boston, on solving clinical problems through the application of advanced engineering and chemistry
^{to the interview}

Interview: The Nanoparticle Toolbox
Dr. Mukesh G. Harisinghani director of the Clinical Discovery Program at the Center for Molecular Imaging Research and Director of Body MRI, Massachusetts General Hospital, on the clinical applications of magnetic nanoparticles
^{to the interview}

Breast Diagnostics: The Battle against Breast Cancer
Early detection and diagnosis are crucial in the fight against breast cancer. Major advances in imaging technologies are now making possible more precise examinations that place less stress on patients
^{breast diagnostics}

Breast Cancer Prognosis Test: How to Fingerprint a Tumor
Researchers are closing in on a diagnostic test that will be able to predict whether a patient with breast cancer can be successfully treated without chemotherapy. Automated analysis of tumor-specific genes is the key to a new world of individually-tailored treatment
^{breast cancer prognosis test}

Facts and Forecasts: The Sooner the Better
People are now living longer, not least thanks to advances in health care. At the same time, the world’s population continues to grow. Partly as a result of this demographic development, global health care costs are expected to more than double within ten years. The costs of treating chronic illnesses account for a large share of this
^{Facts and Forecasts}

Epidemiology: Patterns in the Puzzle
In northeastern Germany, medical researchers are examining thousands of subjects in one of the world’s most comprehensive health surveys. Together with Siemens, they hope to gain insight into the origin and treatment of the most common illnesses
^Epidemiology

Biomarkers: Answers in the Blood
Accurately diagnosing illnesses such as cancer can be an extremely complex and protracted process. Yet there are now many tests that provide a fast and foolproof identification of diseases in the lab—often using just a few drops of blood
^biomarkers

Laboratory Automation: New Vistas in Diagnostics
Siemens has developed an automated laboratory system that combines a large number of instruments and tests in one machine and greatly accelerates workflows. Every hour, it can analyze 200 samples and perform 1,500 diagnostic measurements
^{Dimension Vista}

In Brief
Developments, contacts, links, literature
^{to the review}