Associate Professor
Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery

Education

B.Sc. (Saint-Petersburg State University, Russia, 2001)
Ph.D. (University of Georgia, USA, 2007)
Postdoc (Syracuse University, USA, 2007-2008)
Postdoc (91社区, Canada, 2009-2011)

Affiliations

91社区, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery (primary affiliation)
91社区, Department of Chemistry (associate member)
91社区, Center for Studies in Aging (associate member)

Contact Information

Office: the Neuro, 3801 University street, WB326
Phone: (514) 398-1503
Lab: the Neuro, NW149
Email: alexey.kostikov [at] mcgill.ca

Research Themes

• Chemical Biology
• Synthesis/Catalysis

Research Description

Positron emission tomography (PET) is an in vivo molecular imaging modality which relies on radioactive isotopes embedded within biologically active molecules, called PET tracers. After administration of such tracers to a patient or study subject, the emitted radiation from the decay of the isotope penetrates the tissues and can be detected by the external camera to produce an image of the tracer鈥檚 biodistribution. Since its inception about 50 years ago, PET has been extensively used for cancer, cardiac and brain imaging in both basic research of human health and in clinical practice. Our research is focused on development of novel PET radiotracers for in vivo imaging of brain biomarkers implicated in a variety of neuropsychological and neurodegenerative conditions and improving the efficiency of radiolabeling procedures.

Development of novel PET tracers for neuroreceptor imaging. In particular, our research is focused on PET tracer development for neurotrophin receptors p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75^NTR) and tropomyosin kinase receptor (TrkA/B/C) implicated in neurodegenerative diseases as well as melatonin type 1 and type 2 receptors (MT₁ and MT₂), implicated primarily in sleep and mood disorders. This work has been published in the Journal of Radiolabelled Compounds and Radiopharmaceuticals and we are preparing another manuscript for ACS Chemical Neuroscience.

New chemistry for ¹⁸F-radiolabeling of peptides and proteins. Our group is primarily interested in development of druglike organosilicon scaffolds amenable for facile radiolabeling with an isotope fluorine-18 to design siliconized imaging agents for positron emission tomography (PET). We also developed a biocompatible 鈥渞adioclick鈥� technique for selective and nearly quantitative ¹⁸F-labeling of peptide and more complex proteins via strain-promotes acetylene-azide cycloaddition (SPAAC). Our latest publication was selected for the cover art in Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry.

Improvement of general ¹¹C-radiolabeling procedures. We developed the 鈥淸¹¹C]kits鈥� for production of carbon-11 labeled PET radiotracers using disposable manifolds on automated modules, which proved to be very reliable and allows for consecutive production of tracers with minimal intervals between the syntheses. We also developed a solid-phase supported ¹¹C-radiolabeling on disposable cartridges and published it in the Journal of Radiolabelled Compounds and Radiopharmaceuticals and recently as a video guide in the Journal of Visualized Experiments.

Currently Teaching