Using radioactive drugs to see inside your body - Pedro Brugarolas

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Is there a way to detect diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s before they advance too far? Doctors are using injected radioactive drugs that circulate through the body and act as a beacon for PET scanners. These diagnostic tools can detect the spread of diseases before they can be spotted with other types of imaging. So how exactly does this work, and is it safe? Pedro Brugarolas investigates.


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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Pedro Brugarolas
  • Director Jovan Rakić, Goran Rakic
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Producer Milica Lapcevic
  • Animator Jovan Rakić, Goran Rakic
  • Character Designer Jovan Rakić
  • Editor Goran Rakic
  • Illustrator Jovan Rakić
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
  • Fact-Checker Brian Gutierrez
Additional Resources for you to Explore
About the educator: Pedro Brugarolas is currently an Assistant Professor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He obtained his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Chicago. Dr. Brugarolas is passionate about developing new PET radiopharmaceuticals and teaching people about PET. More info at: http://gordon.mgh.harvard.edu/brugarolas/

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TED-Ed
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New York, NY
03/12/2019 • 
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Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Pedro Brugarolas
  • Director Jovan Rakić, Goran Rakic
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Producer Milica Lapcevic
  • Animator Jovan Rakić, Goran Rakic
  • Character Designer Jovan Rakić
  • Editor Goran Rakic
  • Illustrator Jovan Rakić
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
  • Fact-Checker Brian Gutierrez

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