Combining research with clinic life

Michael Messerli wants to improve the early diagnosis of lung tumors. In addition to his work at the Department of Nuclear Medicine, he is researching the diagnostic opportunities offered by modern positron emission tomography in combination with computer tomography (PET/CT).

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Michael Messerli has set himself an ambitious goal: on top of all his responsibilities in the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the University Hospital Zurich, the 33-year-old assistant doctor wants to research the use of digital positron emission tomography (PET) for better early diagnosis of lung tumors. Currently, around 80% of patients with lung cancer are only diagnosed at a very late stage – often too late.

The project is made possible by the support of the Iten-Kohaut Foundation. This allows Messerli to dedicate 10 to 12 hours a week to his research. During this time, he is paid by donations from the foundation rather than by the University Hospital Zurich. His research project runs until the end of 2019.

“All too often, lung cancer is so advanced that we can’t operate, or we operate on patients who have nodes in their lungs that turn out not to be malignant,” says Messerli. An earlier and more precise diagnosis intends to improve this. The doctor is researching how PET scans can be optimally combined with standard computer tomography (CT).

“For PET scans, patients are injected with a slightly radioactive sugar that reveals the parts of the body where metabolic activity is increased,” explains Messerli. “Cancerous tumors show high metabolic activity and require high levels of sugar, meaning that, in combination with CT, malignant developments in the body can be located and their exact activity made visible.”

To ensure that this PET/CT procedure causes as little damage as possible to the patients, Messerli’s project is also determining how far he can reduce the radioactive dosage and still achieve a reliable result. The radiologist hopes to complete the project with a second nuclear medicine specialist and bring lung cancer diagnosis in Zurich’s medical hub a decisive step forward.

100% financed

Iten Kohaut Foundation