image: Peter S. Conti, M.D., Ph.D., is the recipient of SNMMI's 2016 Paul C. Aebersold Award for outstanding achievement in basic nuclear medicine science. view more
Credit: SNMMI
San Diego, Calif. -- Peter S. Conti, MD, PhD, FACNP, FACR, professor of radiology, pharmaceutical sciences and biomedical engineering, and director of the Molecular Imaging Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, has been named the 2016 recipient of the prestigious Paul C. Aebersold Award. Conti was presented the award by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) during its annual meeting, held June 11-15 in San Diego, Calif.
The award is named for Paul C. Aebersold--a pioneer in the biologic and medical application of radioactive materials and the first director of the Atomic Energy Commission's Division of Isotope Development. It recognizes outstanding achievement in basic science applied to nuclear medicine and was first presented in 1973. The SNMMI Committee on Awards selects the recipient.
"Dr. Conti's innovative research has advanced the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. He is a pioneer in the development of clinical applications of positron emission tomography," stated Gary L. Dillehay, MD, FACNM, FACR, chair of the SNMMI Committee on Awards and past president of the society. "His research includes the development of specific PET radiopharmaceuticals for imaging cancers and other disease processes, as well as the development of radiotracers for gene therapy."
Reflecting on the award, Conti said, "It is an incredible honor to receive this recognition from the Society and my peers. Passion, hard work and perseverance are critical factors in achieving success, but so too are having great mentors, collaborators, students, and of course, a supportive family. I have been very fortunate to have so many talented and caring people in my life, and for that I am truly grateful."
A tenured professor at the University of Southern California, Conti has served as director of the university's Molecular Imaging Center (formerly the Positron Imaging Science Center and Clinic) since its inception in 1991. His research focuses on development of novel diagnostic imaging agents for oncology applications. He pioneered the use of PET imaging in the understanding and characterization of cancer metabolism and gene expression, and he has focused on the discovery and clinical translation of novel PET imaging agents for in vivo cancer diagnosis, evaluation of metastatic disease potential and assessment of response to therapy.
Conti received his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College and his doctorate in biophysics from Cornell University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Sloan-Kettering Division, New York, N.Y. He comped his residency in diagnostic radiology and fellowship in nuclear medicine at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Md., and interned in the Department of Surgery at St. Luke's Hospital in New York, N.Y. Conti is board certified in both diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine. He is a fellow of the American College of Radiology and the American College of Nuclear Medicine Physicians. He has published more than 300 peer-reviewed scientific articles and abstracts in the field of molecular imaging.
Conti is a past president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and remains active in the society (now called the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging), serving on a number of committees, including government and regulatory affairs related to the development of molecular imaging technology and its applications in medicine.
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About the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is an international scientific and medical organization dedicated to raising public awareness about nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, a vital element of today's medical practice that adds an additional dimension to diagnosis, changing the way common and devastating diseases are understood and treated and helping provide patients with the best health care possible.
SNMMI's more than 17,000 members set the standard for molecular imaging and nuclear medicine practice by creating guidelines, sharing information through journals and meetings and leading advocacy on key issues that affect molecular imaging and therapy research and practice. For more information, visit http://www.snmmi.org.