Ottawa researchers find better way to image the heart

OTTAWA – A new way to image the heart is making it easier to detect coronary artery disease – and the research behind it has earned international recognition for an Ottawa physicist.

Rob deKemp (pictured), PhD, MASNC, head imaging physicist in the Department of Cardiac Imaging at the Ottawa Heart Institute, led a study that was awarded Abstract of the Year at the 2025 Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) annual meeting in New Orleans. The award highlights the most impactful research out of more than 1,300 submissions received this year.

At the Ottawa Heart Institute, Rob deKemp studies and develops ways to create detailed medical images, especially to help see the heart and blood vessels more clearly.

The study introduces a simpler and faster way to measure blood flow in the heart using PET (positron emission tomography) scans and a new imaging agent called 18F-flurpiridaz. This agent stays in the body longer, making it uniquely possible to scan patients after exercise – providing not only clear diagnostic images but also valuable information about how the heart performs under physiological stress.

“Our study looked at whether a simpler scanning method after stress – like exercise or medication – could still give accurate results,” said deKemp. “This is the first time we’ve seen that treadmill PET scans might be able to measure how well blood flows to the heart.”

The new method showed strong results in both exercise and medication-based stress tests, accurately identifying narrowed or blocked arteries.

“This achievement reflects the strength of our team and the incredible support we have at the Ottawa Heart Institute,” deKemp said. “Most of all, it motivates us to keep pushing forward to improve care for patients around the world.”

If proven, the method could become a go-to test for diagnosing and assessing risk in people with heart disease. Further validation may be required in other prospective trial cohorts.

18F-flurpiridaz is the first new perfusion radiopharmaceutical approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in nearly 30 years. It is still undergoing clinical trials in Canada.