Two awards for Forschungszentrum Jülich: Alavi Mandell Prize for Dr. Elena Doering and PD Dr. Gérard N. Bischof

Dr. Elena Doering and PD Dr. Gérard N. Bischof, both working at Forschungszentrum Jülich and University Hospital Cologne, have been awarded the prestigious Alavi-Mandell Prize by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. The prize recognizes their outstanding scientific contributions in the field of molecular imaging of neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Doering received the award for her publication “MRI or [¹⁸F]FDG PET for Brain Age Gap Estimation: Links to Cognition, Pathology, and Alzheimer Disease Progression” in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine. In her study, she investigated how deviations in estimated brain age from chronological age - the so-called brain age gap (BAG) - are related to cognitive performance, neuropathological burden and disease progression in Alzheimer's patients. She compared BAG estimates based on MRI and [¹⁸F]FDG-PET data and showed that both modalities can provide different, yet potentially complementary insights into neurodegenerative development.

PD Dr. Bischof was awarded for his work “Improved Tau PET SUVR Quantification in 4-Repeat Tau Phenotypes with [¹⁸F]PI-2620”. This study focused on improving the quantitative evaluation of tau PET images in 4-repeat tau phenotypes, such as those occurring in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). By optimizing the Standard Uptake Value Ratio (SUVR) quantification with the tracer [¹⁸F]PI-2620, the diagnostic accuracy in the differentiation of these tauopathies could be improved.

The Alavi-Mandell Award is presented annually to young scientists who distinguish themselves through outstanding scientific achievements and are thus encouraged to pursue an academic career in the field of nuclear medicine. The double award underlines the high scientific quality and innovative strength of nuclear medicine at the University Hospital of Cologne.