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Zibo Li, PhD        Director of UNC Radiochemistry & Cyclotron Program

 

When it opened within the Biomedical Research Imaging Center (BRIC) in summer 2014, UNC’s Radiochemistry and Cyclotron Facility positioned the University at the fore of translational cancer imaging research not only nationwide, but on a worldwide scale. As the facility’s new Director, Dr. Zibo Li invested his expertise in developing novel radiolabeling methods and multi-modality molecular imaging probes to establish at UNC the ability to develop novel radiochemistry for cancer diagnosis.

L to R: UNC’s Drs. Eric Smith, Zibo Li, Eric Stergios & Weili Lin visiting Affiliated Hospital of Southwestern Medical University in LuZhou, Sichuan, China.

Fast forward four years, Dr. Li’s radiochemistry program is well-known not only for its development of various novel 18F labeling methods and PET agents, but also for its ability to provide and translate novel PET agents from bench to bedside.   Achieving such a presence at UNC now allows Li to serve as a global ambassador for his trade. In 2018, he partnered with an academic medical center in China’s Sichuan province to assist the institution in growing its own radiochemistry and cyclotron program. In April 2018, Drs. Weili Lin and Eric Smith (UNC Biomedical Research Imaging Center), Dr. Eric Stergios (UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center) and Dr. Li visited partnering colleagues at The Affiliated Hospital of Southwestern Medical University (AHSWMU), in LuZhou, Sichuan, China. At AHSWMU, one cyclotron and a radiochemistry lab was already in operation, and plans to expand the facility are underway.

Visiting his PhD advisor’s hometown, Li’s contingent and their partnering host discussed ways UNC could help production at the AHSWMU facility meet standards set for U.S. radiochemistry/cyclotron facilities.

“While in LuZhou, we identified with our hosts multiple initiatives that would be mutually beneficial. Once their facility has met U.S. standards, our contingent can perform clinical trials jointly, which will provide us the access to a larger number patient population for validating our concepts fast.   After obtaining more data, our UNC research team can submit a stronger proposal on clinical research trial. The eventual benefit to patient care both in China and here at UNC is achievement on a global scale that can be extended to others worldwide.”

AHSWMU colleagues visit UNC radiochemistry leadership: 1) Top photo: 3rd from R – Dr. Matt Mauro (Department Chair); 2) Bottom photo: Dr. Weili Lin – BRIC Director (Center), Dr. Zibo Li – UNC Radiochemistry Program Director (2nd from L)

When AHSWMU partners visited Li’s UNC contingent in August 2018, they toured the BRIC’s Radiochemistry and Cyclotron Facility within Marsico Hall and were impressed by the strong basic research component, cutting-edge instruments, strict quality control process, and patient-oriented research. Their observation of UNC’s Radiochemistry and Cyclotron Facility at Marsico offered a glimpse of what this Chinese radiochemistry and cyclotron program can become with the guidance of their UNC partnering colleagues. A visiting scholarship program is being explored by both parties, and the constructive discussion between both parties undoubtedly will lead to other opportunities.

Li concluded: “In the past few years, our program has been growing very fast. The unique feature of UNC’s radiochemistry program is its integration of basic research and clinical research. We emphasize bench-to-bedside translation, develop novel labeling methods and probes, and connect research with clinical need. This is unique. Some centers may focus on research, but not production, while others focus on production, but not research. UNC’s radiochemistry program is one of the few that emphasizes both.”