Ali Azhdarinia
Professor
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
McGovern Medical School
Institute of Molecular Medicine
Center for Precision Biomedicine
My research is at the interface of chemistry and biology and is focused on the development of targeted agents for the visualization and treatment of disease. Using novel chemistry platforms, my laboratory produces contrast agents with radioactive and near-infrared fluorescent (NIRF) labels for whole-body and intraoperative imaging, respectively. We also utilize molecular targeting strategies to develop theranostic molecules for image-guided drug delivery. Radioisotopes, such as Gallium-68 and Copper-64, are routinely used in my laboratory to label peptides, proteins, and antibody-based agents and enable pharmacological characterization.
A tutorial in my laboratory would provide students with experience in molecular imaging, contrast agent development, radiochemistry, in vitro and in vivo models of cancer, and pharmacological evaluation of novel compounds.
Education & Training
PhD, MD Anderson UTHealth Houston Graduate School, 2005