Molecular Imaging Chemistry Laboratory (MICL)

Welcome 

Welcome to the homepage of the Molecular Imaging Chemistry Laboratory (MICL). We are a medicinal chemistry and radiochemistry research group based at Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridge (UK) under the supervision of Prof. Franklin Aigbirhio. Our research is focussed on the use of positron-emitting isotopes, particularly ¹¹C and ¹⁸F, toward the development of new radiochemical methodology and the synthesis of new radiotracers for pre-clinical imaging using Positron Emission Tomography (PET). 

The MICL is ideally equipped for multidisciplinary research with our own synthetic chemistry, radiochemistry and radio-pharmacology laboratories. We share, with our GMP facility, access to an onsite cyclotron, in addition, we have exclusive access to our own 300 MHz NMR, MS and HPLC equipment.

The Cambridge area is a unique hub of world leading biomedical research. Our location allows us to form extensive collaborations across the University of Cambridge and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus as well industrial partners such as GE healthcare and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

Please browse the website to find out more about what we do!

Recent News 

New equipment in the MICL 

As part of our continuing collaborations with GE Amersham we have received a new GE FASTlab as well as a prep and analytical HPLC systems. Initially, this new equipment will be used to transfer tracers to our GMP facility with further projects to develop novel radiotracers for imaging neurodegenerative disease in the near future.