Clearer Scans, Better Care: UC Davis’ Next Big Step in Imaging

By Janya Ullal

Doctors may soon see disease in a whole new light. UC Davis researchers are developing an advanced PET/CT imaging technique that could make scans sharper, diagnoses more accurate, and lifesaving technology more accessible in hospitals across the country.

A $2.5 million, four-year research grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering will fund an ambitious project at the UC Davis Department of Radiology aimed at changing how doctors diagnose major diseases.

The work, led by Dr. Wang’s lab, centers on reimagining the way PET and CT scans are combined. In current PET/CT imaging, PET reveals areas of high metabolic activity—often a sign of cancer or other illness—while CT offers detailed anatomical views. The pairing has been a clinical standard for years.

However, the CT component in these hybrid machines typically operates at a single energy level, which limits its ability to distinguish between different tissues. Wang’s team has developed a method to capture CT data at multiple energy levels, greatly enhancing tissue differentiation. This advancement allows physicians to integrate PET’s metabolic detail with CT’s richer tissue composition analysis, potentially yielding clearer, more informative images.

One of the project’s most significant advantages is its compatibility with existing PET/CT scanners. Because the method requires no major hardware modifications, hospitals could implement it quickly and cost-effectively. That accessibility could extend advanced diagnostic imaging to more patients, especially in settings where upgrading equipment is not feasible.

While the technology’s immediate focus is on cancer imaging, its applications may also benefit the diagnosis and monitoring of bone and heart diseases. If successful, this approach could lead to earlier detection, more precise diagnoses, and more personalized treatment plans.

As UC Davis researchers refine the technique over the next four years, the project represents both a technological milestone and a step toward making high-level imaging available to patients everywhere.

Sources:

1. UC Davis Health. “New Hybrid Imaging Breakthrough Could Transform Detection of Cancer and Other Diseases.” UC Davis Health News, August 2025.https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/new-hybrid-imaging-breakthrough-could-transform-detection-of-cancer-and-other-diseases/2025/08
2. Wang Lab, UC Davis Department of Radiology. “PET-enabled Dual‑Energy CT.” Wang Lab Research Projects. Accessed August 2025. https://wanglab.faculty.ucdavis.edu/research/ps-ct
3. Radiology Business. “Radiologist Wins Grant for Hybrid PET/CT Imaging of Disease.” RadiologyBusiness.com, 2024.https://radiologybusiness.com/topics/care-delivery/healthcare-quality/radiologist-hybrid-petct-imaging-disease
4. Grantome. “PET-enabled Dual‑Energy CT, NIH R21 Grant R21 EB027346-01A1.” Accessed August 2025. https://grantome.com/grant/NIH/R21-EB027346-01A1