Christopher J. R. Fookes
Papers
1
Total Citations
19
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1
About
Christopher J. R. Fookes is a leading radiochemist whose work has significantly advanced the field of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, particularly for neuroinflammation. His primary research focuses on the development and radiosynthesis of novel radioligands targeting the translocator protein (TSPO, 18 kDa), a key biomarker for activated microglia in neurological disorders. Fookes’s most notable contribution is the radiosynthesis of [¹⁸F]PBR111, a high-affinity and selective TSPO radioligand, which he successfully labelled with fluorine-18 using an automated Zymate-XP robot. This work, published in 2008 and cited 19 times, provided a critical tool for non-invasive PET imaging of neuroinflammation in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and traumatic brain injury. By establishing a reliable, automated synthesis method, Fookes enabled broader preclinical and clinical application of this tracer, facilitating studies that link TSPO expression to disease progression. His contributions have helped bridge the gap between radiochemistry and translational neuroscience, offering researchers a robust imaging agent to explore the role of neuroinflammation in vivo.
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