The ‘Mars Shot for Nuclear Medicine, Molecular Imaging, and Molecularly Targeted Radiopharmaceutical Therapy’ is a forward-looking glimpse into the future of nuclear medicine. The manuscript—published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM)—outlines visionary but achievable goals for the many facets of nuclear medicine. The paper was written by a multidisciplinary group of scientists and physicians from the research and discovery domain of the SNMMI’s Value Initiative. 

The goal of the SNMMI Mars Shot is to provide resources that translate visionary nuclear medicine imaging, radiopharmaceutical therapy, and data science research or projects into tools or treatments helping improve the lives of patients. 

Overview & Panel Discussion



Supporting the Mars Shot


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Contact Sharon Gleason to learn how you can get involved in the SNMMI Mars Shot Initiative.

The Mars Shot paper addresses five primary areas in nuclear medicine:  

  • Foundational to all molecular imaging is physics, instrumentation, and the new frontier of data science. Advances in this area have enabled the growth of the field. 
  • Neurologic PET imaging of the brain has accelerated what we know about brain function today, but much remains unknown. 
  • Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men, women, and people across most racial and ethnic groups in the US. Imaging and understanding blood flow and vessels of the heart is an area of opportunity for cardiac PET imaging. 
  • Since 2016, the pace of oncology imaging agent development and approval has been unprecedented. New tracers for cancers such as neuroendocrine tumors, prostate, and breast cancer – diseases for which FDG is not conclusive on its own - have changed the field of nuclear medicine. 
  • Tied to the rapid growth of new oncology imaging agents is molecularly targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies. 
  • Finally, the role of the nuclear medicine physician in the treatment of a patient must evolve. To realize the potential of precision medicine, the nuclear medicine practitioners must be integrated as a key player on the patient management team. 
Once a critical funding level is reached, SNMMI will begin soliciting proposals for innovative research and special projects in these areas.

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging is recognized as 501 (c)(3) charitable organizations by the IRS. Our tax ID is 36-2496678. Your donation is tax deductible as per current IRS regulations. All gifts to the “SNMMI Mars Shot” will be recognized by SNMMI. Recognition opportunities will vary according to the level of support and the donor’s wishes.