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Hank
F. Kung, Ph.D.
Professor of Radiology and Pharmacology
Department of Radiology
Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry Section
3700 Market Street, Room 305
(215) 662-3096 Fax: (215) 349-5035
email: kunghf@sunmac.spect.upenn.edu
For more information,visit theRadiopharmaceutical Chemistry Section
Click here for selected publications since Dr. Kung's arrival at Penn
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Current research interests include 1).developing imaging agents for CNS
receptors (dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitter systems), 2). agents
for imaging Alzheimer's disease, and 3) neuronal functional imaging of the
heart. RESEARCH TECHNIQUES
drug design, organic synthesis, radiochemistry, receptor pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and physics and instrumentation of gamma imaging tomography devices.RESEARCH SUMMARY
The focus of my research group is on the development of new radiopharmaceuticals that provide diagnostic information on various organs in normal and disease states, such as Parkinson's, depression and Alzheimer's diseases.
Dr. Kung's research group is interested in development of selective
radiotracers for in vitro and in vivo studies of CNS receptors. The development
of new tracers involve multi disciplinary efforts including: synthesis
of new ligands, evaluation of structure-activity relationship, radiochemistry
of Tc-99m and I-123, and in vitro and in vivo studies of binding affinity
and selectivity in cloned cell membrane and brain tissue preparations.
When the tracers are tested in human in conjunction with Single Photon
Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) they may provide diagnostic information
not attainable by other imaging techniques. In the past few years, many
novel iodinated ligands selective for CNS dopamine and serotonin receptors
have been developed. Specifically, I-123 IBZM (iodo-benzamide) and Tc-99m
TRODAT-1 are currently used worldwide as a D2/D3 dopamine receptor and
dopamine transporter imaging agents with SPECT for differential diagnosis
of Parkinson's disease and other mental disorders related to changes on
postsynaptic dopamine receptor function.
KEY WORDS:
Receptor imaging, Dopamine and Serotonins systems, beta amyloid
