CONTACT DETAILS
NAME*
Prof David Wyper
COUNTRY Scotland
ADDRESS Department of Clinical Physics, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow
TEL* 0141 201 2105
FAX
0141 201 2060
E-MAIL* d.wyper@udcf.gla.ac.uk
NAME OF ORGANISATION*: University of Glasgow
IMI CALL TOPIC NAME:
10. New Tools for the Development of Novel
Therapies in Psychiatric Disorders
CLOSING DATE FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST: July 15 2008
WE WANT TO JOIN AN EXISTING CONSORTIUM FOR THIS TOPIC.
/OUR SKILLS/EXPERIENCE ARE:
Background:
The Scottish academic partnership SINAPSE is a collective group of 6 Universities working on brain
imaging. Three of these, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, have a particular focus on molecular
imaging. The Glasgow group has a long history of taking SPECT tracers from the laboratory into the
clinic, having delivered 10 tracers for research use to date. They are now working jointly with Aberdeen
developing tracers for PET and/or SPECT. Targets of current interest are nicotinic alpha4beta2
receptors, H3 histamine receptors, neuro-inflammation markers and glutamate receptors. Biomarkers
previously developed include M1 muscarinic, glutamate NMDA and TK gene expression tracers.
Glasgow and Edinburgh researchers have developed experimental models for schizophrenia that can be
of value in testing novel tracers as well as testing novel therapies.
Sizeable patient cohorts are available within the 5M population of Scotland and there is considerable
genotyping expertise. There are unique patient identifiers [community health index numbers] to
facilitate epidemiological studies and patient follow-up.
Imaging and tracer development capacity:

Medical cyclotrons with PET-CT in Glasgow and Aberdeen – plus Edinburgh in circa 8 months.

Two high resolution brain SPECT cameras [Neurofocus] plus extensive general SPECT capacity
within the health service

GMP compliant Radiopharmacies in Glasgow and Aberdeen – plus Edinburgh in circa 8
months.

An extensive network of MRI scanners – both 1.5T and 3T

Expertise in image analysis, both within imaging centres and through links with academic
informatics units

Eight radio-chemists and links with both academic chemistry and pharma for precursor
development.

Pre-clinical microPET and microSPECT in Aberdeen and Glasgow.
Recent publications:
 Jobson NK, Spike R, Crawford AR, Dewar D, Pimlott SL, Sutherland A. Stereoselective synthesis of (2S,3R)and (2R,3S)-iodoreboxetine; potential SPECT imaging agents for the noradrenaline transporter. Org Biomol
Chem. 2008 Jul 7;6(13):2369-76.
 Pimlott SL, Ebmeier KP. SPECT imaging in dementia. Br J Radiol. 2007 Dec;80 Spec No 2:S153-9. Review.
 O'Brien JT, Colloby SJ, Pakrasi S, Perry EK, Pimlott SL, Wyper DJ, McKeith IG, Williams ED. Nicotinic
alpha4beta2 receptor binding in dementia with Lewy bodies using 123I-5IA-85380 SPECT demonstrates a
link between occipital changes and visual hallucinations. Neuroimage. 2008 Apr 15;40(3):1056-63. Epub
2008 Jan 19.
 Terrière E, Sharman M, Donaghey C, Herrmann L, Lonie J, Strachan M, Dougall N, Best J, Ebmeier KP,
Pimlott S, Patterson J, Wyper D. alpha4beta2-nicotinic receptor binding with 5-IA in Alzheimer's disease:
methods of scan analysis. Neurochem Res. 2008 Apr;33(4):643-51.
 O'Brien JT, Colloby SJ, Pakrasi S, Perry EK, Pimlott SL, Wyper DJ, McKeith IG, Williams ED. Alpha4beta2
nicotinic receptor status in Alzheimer's disease using 123I-5IA-85380 single-photon-emission computed
tomography. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2007 Apr;78(4):356-62.
 Dempsey MF, Wyper D, Owens J, Pimlott S, Papanastassiou V, Patterson J, Hadley DM, Nicol A, Rampling R,
Brown SM. Assessment of 123I-FIAU imaging of herpes simplex viral gene expression in the treatment of
glioma. Nucl Med Commun. 2006 Aug;27(8):611-7.
 Fullerton NE, Boyd M, Ross SC, Pimlott SL, Babich J, Kirk D, Zalutsky MR, Mairs RJ. Comparison of
radiohaloanalogues of meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) for a combined gene- and targeted radiotherapy
approach to bladder carcinoma. Med Chem. 2005 Nov;1(6):611-8.
 Cavanagh J, Patterson J, Pimlott S, Dewar D, Eersels J, Dempsey MF, Wyper D. Serotonin transporter
residual availability during long-term antidepressant therapy does not differentiate responder and
nonresponder unipolar patients. Biol Psychiatry. 2006 Feb 15;59(4):301-8
OR
PARTNER SEARCH FOR IMI CALL 1