Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have discovered a promising new way to improve CAR-T cell therapy for solid tumors such as lung cancer and melanoma. The study, published in Nature Cancer (https://www.nature.com/articles/s43018-026-01167-6), found that focused irradiation, a targeted therapy that delivers high-energy beams to stun rapidly growing cells such as cancer, can help CAR-T cells survive longer and work more effectively inside tumors. 

This year’s theme, “Emerging Technologies: Paving the Way for Novel Therapies,” explored the pioneering approaches that are transforming patient outcomes.

Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine say they used a form of magnetic imaging to track cell therapy injections commonly used to treat certain autoimmune diseases and cancers.

A novel PET radiotracer can accurately detect deep vein thrombosis in the legs and reveal whether clots have migrated to the lungs. By enabling whole‑body imaging of blood clots in a single scan, the approach may support faster and more efficient diagnosis -- particularly for patients who also require evaluation for potentially life‑threatening pulmonary embolism. This research was presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) 2026 Annual Meeting, and the collection of images showcasing the visualization of blood clots in the legs and in the lungs, has been selected as the 2026 SNMMI Henry N. Wagner, Jr., Image of the Year.

Martin G. Pomper, MD, PhD, known for his pioneering work in molecular imaging and the development of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) targeted agents, was awarded the Benedict Cassen Prize during the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2026 Annual Meeting. The honor is awarded every two years by the Education and Research Foundation (ERF) for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging in recognition of outstanding achievement and work leading to a major advance in nuclear medicine science.