In an era where early detection can mean the difference between manageable illness and irreversible decline, few fields hold as much promise as molecular imaging. At the forefront stands Franklin Aigbirhio, a Nigerian-British professor whose innovations in radiochemistry are transforming positron emission tomography (PET) from a diagnostic tool into a predictive technology.
As healthcare systems grapple with ageing populations and rising costs, global dementia care alone is projected to exceed $1tn annually by 2030, Aigbirhio’s work offers a glimpse of a more efficient, targeted future.
Aigbirhio, 59, holds the chair in molecular imaging chemistry at the University of Cambridge, a position he has occupied since 2014. His journey to this pinnacle reflects a blend of academic rigour and cross-cultural insight. Educated at the University of Sussex, he has built a career bridging chemistry and medicine, with over 277 publications and more than 9,500 citations to his name. His Nigerian roots have also informed collaborations with African research initiatives, including serving as a speaker for the Africa Of Our Dream Education Initiative’s science lectures and co-leading projects with Nigerian academics. Elected a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2021, Aigbirhio’s contributions were recognised for advancing PET probe development, earning accolades from peers who hail him as a pioneer in non-invasive disease mapping.
At its core, Aigbirhio’s research focuses on crafting radiolabelled compounds—short-lived radioactive tracers injected into patients to illuminate biological processes in real time. These “smart” molecules bind to specific targets, such as proteins or enzymes, allowing PET scanners to detect anomalies long before symptoms manifest. His laboratory at the Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre has pioneered tracers for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, where early visualisation of amyloid plaques or tau proteins could shave years off diagnosis timelines. Beyond dementia, his innovations extend to oncology, cardiovascular conditions, and even adrenocortical disorders, with breakthroughs like [18F]AldoView, the first highly selective PET tracer for aldosterone synthase, enabling precise imaging of hormone-related tumours.
What sets Aigbirhio apart is his emphasis on automation and scalability. Traditional radiochemistry is labour-intensive, with tracers decaying in minutes, demanding on-site synthesis. He has developed streamlined processes and technologies to produce these compounds efficiently, reducing costs and expanding access. In a recent lecture at London’s Royal Institution, he outlined how these “new chemistries” are decoding the body’s biochemical secrets, from glucose metabolism to enzyme distribution, potentially accelerating drug trials by providing rapid feedback on therapeutic efficacy.
Perhaps his most ambitious project is steering the ANGLIA network, a collaborative effort uniting Cambridge with institutions like Sheffield and King’s College London. Backed by a £5.5m investment from the UKRI Medical Research Council, the initiative will install a state-of-the-art total-body PET scanner at Addenbrooke’s Hospital by autumn 2026. Unlike conventional scanners, which capture segmented images over 30-40 minutes, this Siemens Healthineers device images the entire body in seconds, slashing radiation doses by up to 40 times and boosting sensitivity for subtle changes. For patients, this means faster scans and earlier interventions in conditions like cancer, stroke, and hypertension. For researchers, it unlocks unprecedented data on systemic diseases, from long Covid mechanisms to tumour metabolism.
The economic ripple effects are profound. By enabling personalised medicine tailoring treatments based on molecular profiles, the technology could trim billions from healthcare budgets through preventive care. Pharmaceutical giants are watching closely; faster imaging accelerates clinical trials, potentially compressing development timelines and costs. Aigbirhio, who also contributes to the UK’s National PET Imaging Platform, envisions a nationwide ecosystem where such tools democratise advanced diagnostics.
Challenges remain. Radiotracer production requires cyclotron facilities, limiting rollout to major centres, and ethical questions around radiation exposure persist. Yet Aigbirhio’s track record suggests progress: his work on TSPO-PET tracers for tauopathies and huntingtin aggregates in Huntington’s disease exemplifies the field’s maturation. As he told the Royal Institution audience, “We’re turning scanners into molecular detectives.”
With the Addenbrooke’s scanner poised to go live next year, Aigbirhio’s vision is crystallising. In a world hungry for healthcare innovation, this Cambridge professor is not just imaging the future—he’s engineering it.