Dr. Ramsey Badawi
Professor, Department of Radiology
Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Children’s Healthcare
NIH-Funded Innovation Improving Safety for Our Youngest Patients
When children need PET/CT scans, they have to keep very still for the duration of their scan, which can be challenging or impossible for some. UC Davis research, led by Dr. Ramsey Badawi, has developed a total-body PET scanner that is much faster than regular PET scanners, allowing these children to have their scans without needing sedation or anesthetic. This makes the scans safer, and easier on both the children and their parents alike.
Helping Humanity
This research is also working on new ways to use Artificial Intelligence to teach regular PET scanners to “see” more like total-body PET scanners do. This will dramatically help to improve access to the benefits of this game-changing technology. Without continued funding, progress could stall, leading to more late-stage diagnoses, fewer treatment options, and higher healthcare costs. Sustained investment is vital to expanding access and saving lives.
“Total body PET has essentially created a whole new industry, but without the kick-starting of the federal health care dollars to really turn that idea into practice, I’m not sure it would ever have happened. And I think that’s true for a lot of these new ideas in health care.”
— Dr. Ramsay Badawi