Slovenian gets proof of concept grant for PET scanning
Ljubljana, 24 January - A Slovenian researcher has received a proof of concept grant from the European Research Council (ERC) to confirm the concept of his ERC-funded research into new phenomena in elementary particles and accelerate the transition to innovation.
Peter Križan, who works at the Jožef Stefan Institute and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics in Ljubljana, received in 2020 a EUR 2.4 million grant for a five-year project termed Flavour Anomalies with Advanced Particle Identification Methods, which focuses on identifying new phenomena in elementary particles.
The proof of concept grant is for CherPET, a project dedicated to the development of a new type of detector for positron emission tomography (PET), an important diagnostic imaging technique that uses radioactive substances to visualize and measure changes in metabolic processes.
Križan says his research will make it possible to develop lower-cost PET devices "with better capabilities and simpler operation compared to the latest current clinical devices. Due to the lower price even devices that image the whole body could be within reach."
"If our research is successful, our idea will change the way PET is used to diagnose cancer, in early detection of neurodegenerative and heart conditions, and in guiding and monitoring treatment," he said.