About the Speaker:

Dr. Mark “Marty” Pagel directs the Contrast Agent Molecular Engineering Laboratory (CAMEL), which focuses on molecular imaging research at the pre-clinical and clinical levels to interrogate biomarkers of the tumor microenvironment. Research studies in CAMEL are very multidisciplinary, spanning chemistry, biochemistry, cell & molecular biology, cancer biology, immunology, biomedical engineering, medical physics, and radiology. Due to these multidisciplinary activities, CAMEL provides a great environment for collaborations and for training researchers who are interested in molecular imaging of cancer.

Read more here.

About the Seminar:

Title:

A Chemistry Perspective of Imaging the Tumor Microenvironment

Abstract:

Tumor acidosis, hypoxia and vascular perfusion are well-known characteristics of the tumor microenvironment. We have developed MRI, PET/MRI, multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) and electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI) to measure extracellular pH, oxygenation and pharmacokinetics transport rates in solid tumors. We apply these molecular imaging methods to preclinical tumor models, and we have translated some of our methods to evaluate patients who have cancer. We are especially focused on employing molecular imaging to predict treatment effect before starting therapy, and to evaluate the early response to treatment, during evaluations of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. This presentation will highlight chemical principles of our molecular imaging research.