Cheryl L. Morse
Papers
1
Total Citations
31
H-Index
1
About
Cheryl L. Morse is a leading radiochemist whose work has been pivotal in advancing positron emission tomography (PET) imaging for neuroscience. Her primary research focuses on the automated radiosynthesis of novel radioligands, enabling the non-invasive study of critical neuroreceptor systems in the human brain. Morse’s most notable contribution is the development of an automated production method for [¹⁸F]SPA-RQ, a radioligand designed to image brain neurokinin type-1 (NK₁) receptors. This achievement, detailed in her highly cited 2005 paper (31 citations), was instrumental in translating this tracer from a research tool into a viable agent for clinical trials under an Investigational New Drug (IND) application in the United States. By solving the complex challenges of reliable, automated radiosynthesis, Morse directly enabled clinical research into the role of NK₁ receptors in stress, pain, and neuropsychiatric disorders. Her work represents a critical bridge between fundamental radiochemistry and practical clinical application, providing the robust methodology necessary for drug discovery and the exploration of new therapeutic targets in the living human brain.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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