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Richard Carson, PhD

Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging and of Biomedical Engineering
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Additional Titles

Director of Graduate Studies, Biomedical Engineering

About

Titles

Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging and of Biomedical Engineering

Director of Graduate Studies, Biomedical Engineering

Biography

Richard E. Carson received his Ph.D. from UCLA in 1983 in Biomathematics. From that time on, he has focused his research on the development and application of mathematical techniques for the study of human beings and non-human primates with Positron Emission Tomography (PET), a noninvasive imaging technology that uses radiopharmaceuticals to trace in vivo physiology and pharmacology. From 1983 until 2005, Dr. Carson was an integral part of the PET program at the National Institutes of Health, rising to the rank of Senior Scientist. In 2005, Dr. Carson joined the faculty of Yale University as Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Diagnostic Radiology. He was Director of the Yale PET Center from 2007 to 2022, a state-of-the-art facility focused on quantitative PET techniques using novel radiopharmaceuticals. Dr. Carson is also Director of Graduate Studies in Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Carson’s research interests are concentrated in the following areas: 1) Ultra-high resolution brain PET systems and algorithms for image reconstruction with PET, 2) Development of mathematical models for novel radiopharmaceuticals to produce images of physiological parameters, 3) Use of receptor-binding ligands to measure drug occupancy and dynamic changes in neurotransmitters by analysis of PET tracer signals, and 4) applications of PET tracers in clinical populations and preclinical models of disease. Dr. Carson has published over 400 papers in peer-reviewed journals, given over 200 invited lectures and is a member of the editorial board of two of the leading journals in the field of brain PET, the Journal of Nuclear Medicine, and the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. Dr. Carson was awarded the Kuhl-Lassen award from the Brain Imaging Council of the Society of Nuclear Medicine in 2007. He became a member of the College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering in 2008 and was awarded the Sheffield Distinguished Teaching Award from the Yale School of Engineering. In 2009, he was named the winner of the Ed Hoffman Memorial Award from the Computer and Instrumentation Council of the Society of Nuclear Medicine. In 2010, Dr. Carson was named as a member of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering. In 2016, Dr. Carson was given the Distinguished Investigator Award from the Academy of Radiology Research. In 2017, Dr. Carson received the Edward J. Hoffman Medical Imaging Scientist Award from the IEEE. In 2018, Dr. Carson gave the Henry N. Wagner Jr. Lectureship at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging annual meeting in Philadelphia. In 2019, Dr. Carson was named as a Fellow of the IEEE. In 2023, Dr. Carson received the Yale University Graduate Mentor Award. In 2024, Dr. Carson received the Image of the Year award at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging annual meeting.

Appointments

Education & Training

PhD
University of California at Los Angeles (1983)
BS
Brown University, Applied Math-Biology (1977)

Research

Overview

Following administration of a positron-emitting radiopharmaceutical (tracer), PET permits the direct measurement of the four-dimensional radioactivity profile throughout a 3D object over time. Depending on the characteristics of the tracer, physiological parameters can be estimated, such as blood flow, metabolism, and receptor concentration. These measurements can be made with subjects in different states (e.g., stimulus or drug activation), used to compare patient groups to controls, or to assess the efficacy of drug treatment.

Tracer Kinetic Modeling

The goal of PET tracer kinetic modeling is to devise a biologically validated, quantitatively reliable, and logistically practical method for use in human PET studies. Animal studies are typically performed to characterize the tracers, followed by initially complex human studies, typically leading to the development of simplified methods, e.g., using continuous tracer infusion. These techniques are also applied on a pixel-by-pixel level to produce images of PET physiological and pharmacological parameters, such as blood flow and receptor binding. Mathematical methodology includes linear and non-linear differential equations, statistical estimation theory, methods to avoid the needs for arterial blood measurements (the input function) such as blind deconvolution, plus the development of novel rapid computational algorithms.

PET Physics and Reconstruction.

Proper characterization of the PET image data is essential for modeling studies. This requires accurate and carefully characterized corrections for the physics and electronics of coincident event acquisition. Studies of these effects are performed with phantom measurements made on the scanner.

A critical component in the application to real data is the correction for subject motion, particularly as the resolution of modern machines has improved (better than 3-mm in human brain machines). Both hardware and software approaches are employed to address these issues. To produce accurate images with minimum noise, a statistically-based iterative reconstruction algorithm is necessary. Developments in this area include the mathematical aspects of algorithm development, the computer science issues associated with a large cluster-based algorithm, the incorporation of the physics and motion correction, the use of prior information provided from MR images, and the tuning and characterization necessary for practical application for biological studies. The ultimate goal is the combination of the tracer kinetic modeling and image reconstruction to directly process a 4D dataset into parametric images of the physiological parameters of interest. When applied in the thorax, respiratory and cardiac motion must be included, raising the problem to 5D and 6D analysis.

These issue are now all being taken to the next level for the building and optimization of the NeuroEXPLORER (a.k.a. NX), which will have 10-fold higher sensitivity than the previous state-of-the-art HRRT. This system, scheduled to arrive at Yale early in 2023 will open new vista for brain PET investigations.


PET Applications

PET studies are performed in human subjects and preclinical models of a wide variety of diseases. Examples of interest include:

  • Develop the highest resolution and sensitivity human brain PET system (U01EB029811)
  • Synaptic density imaging in the living human brain (See Science Translational Medicine, 2016 and subsequent clinical and preclinical paper)
  • Measuring beta cells in the pancreas for diabetes with novel tracers including ligands for the vesicular monoamine transporter
  • Using PET to measure drug delivery in cancer
  • Neuroreceptor studies have focused on determining changes in receptor concentration as a function of disease or measurement of receptor occupancy by drugs. Such changes have been successfully demonstrated in the dopaminergic, muscarinic, and serotonergic systems.
  • Measurement of the relationship between dopamine receptors and impulsivity
  • New methods for quantification of myocardial blood flow
  • Hypoxia assessment in tumors before and after radiation treatment
  • Differentiation of radiation necrosis vs. tumor recurrence
  • 4D/5D Image reconstruction for PET
  • Mathematical model development for novel radiopharmaceuticals
  • Imaging of beta cells in the pancreas
  • Neuroinflammation imaging in a wide variety of disorders
  • Novel preclinical and clinical applications in oncology

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

Biomedical Engineering; Nuclear Medicine; Physiology; Positron-Emission Tomography; Radiology

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Richard Carson's published research.

Publications

Featured Publications

Clinical Trials

Current Trials

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

  • activity

    Journal of Nuclear Medicine Editorial Board

  • activity

    Biomedical Engineering

  • honor

    IEEE Marie Skłodowska-Curie Award

  • honor

    Image of the Year Award

  • honor

    Yale Graduate Mentor Award

Get In Touch

Contacts

Academic Office Number
Mailing Address

Radiology & Biomedical Imaging

PO Box 208048, 15 York Street

New Haven, CT 06520-8048

United States

Administrative Support