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Yiyun Huang, PhD

Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging
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Additional Titles

Director of Radiochemistry, PET Radiochemistry

Contact Info

Radiology & Biomedical Imaging

PO Box 208048, Yale PET Center

New Haven, CT 06520-8048

United States

About

Titles

Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging

Director of Radiochemistry, PET Radiochemistry

Appointments

Education & Training

PhD
University of Akron (1993)
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA

Research

Overview

The main focus of Dr. Henry Huang's research is the development of new and improved Positron Emission Tomography (PET) radioligands. PET ligand development is a process that involves the interplays of chemistry, biology, pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, and it requires a good understanding of all these scientific disciplines. Over the years Dr. Huang has been involved in the development of new or improved PET radioligands for the dopamine, serotonin, glutamate and acetylcholine receptors and transporters in the brain. Development of PET radioligands includes the following stages: 1. design and synthesis of candidate ligands; 2. in vitro pharmacological experiments to determine binding affinities and selectivity. 3. design and execution of biological and pharmacological experiments in live animals including rodents and non-human primates to evaluate the ligands’ in vivo pharmacology and pharmacokinetics such as distribution, binding selectivity and specificity, metabolism, clearance, and blood and brain kinetics; 4. determination of dosimetry and toxicology; 5. clinical trials to determine the ligands’ suitability for applications in humans to image targeted receptors, proteins, or enzymes. PET imaging technique can be used to determine the concentrations of CNS receptors and transporters in discrete brain regions under normal conditions. It can also be used to probe the changes in the densities of certain receptors and transporters in diseases. Coupled with pharmacological manipulation or stimulation, PET imaging is capable of probing the abnormality in the neurotransmission system functions under diseased conditions. Further applications include determination of the receptor occupancy by marketed or experimental drugs and monitoring the outcome of drug treatment for diseases. In all these applications the key is the availability of an appropriate PET radioligand for a specific receptor, transporter, or enzyme. Therefore, development of PET radioligands is a critical component of PET imaging and will continue to be the major part of Dr. Huang's research. His current interest is the development of ligands for targets in the CNS encompassing many of the neurotransmission systems.

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Yiyun Huang's published research.

Publications

2024

Clinical Trials

Current Trials

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

  • honor

    Distinguished Investigator Award

  • honor

    NARSAD Young Investigator Award

Get In Touch

Contacts

Mailing Address

Radiology & Biomedical Imaging

PO Box 208048, Yale PET Center

New Haven, CT 06520-8048

United States