Research / Clinical Summary

William Eckelman, PhD Adjunct Professor, Radiology Tumor Growth, Invasion & Metastasis Program Contact by Email

Dr. William C. Eckelman began his research in 99mTc radiopharmaceuticals with the development of the 'instant kits,' which became the basis for all subsequent 99mTc radiopharmaceutical kits. In receptor binding radiotracers, Dr. Eckelman and his colleagues performed the first neuroreceptor image in humans in 1983 using the muscarinic antagonist, [123I]-IQNB. Based on the design and synthesis of the narcotic antagonist (-)-cyclofoxy by Dr. Kenner Rice, he and his associates obtained and presented in 1984 the first definitive positron emission tomography (PET) image of opioid receptor occupancy in primate brain using [18F]cyclofoxy, an opiate antagonist. As the Vice President for Diagnostics Research at the Squibb Institute, Dr. Eckelman led the research group that developed the strontium-82/rubidium-82 generator, 99mTc labeled teboroxime, and Prohance, a gadolinium labeled MRI contrast agent.

Other receptor binding radiotracers developed by Dr. Eckelman and his collaborators include ligands to quantitate estrogen receptors in breast cancer, dopamine D2 receptors in schizophrenia, M2 subtype muscarinic receptors in Alzheimer’s disease, and 5HT1A receptors in depression. His group at the National Institutes of Health also developed techniques to use non-traditional PET radionuclides such as Tc-94m, Br-76, Ga-66, Y-86, and I-124. In addition to his research efforts, Dr. Eckelman has been the editor-in-chief of Nuclear Medicine and Biology since 1985 and a member of the Diagnostic Radiology Study section during 1982-1986 and 1997-2001. He received the Herman L. Blumgart Pioneer Lecture Award in 1985, the Paul C. Aebersold Award for Outstanding Achievement in Basic Science Applied to Nuclear Medicine in 1988, the American College of Nuclear Physicians Corporate Achievement Award in 1995, the Georg deHevesy Nuclear Pioneer Award, Society of Nuclear Medicine in 1997, and the Great Golden Seal of Padua University in recognition of contributions to Radiopharmaceuticals Development in 2002. He has published over 300 research papers, books and book chapters.

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