Join us for our third talk in the Bioengineering Spring 2015 Seminar Series. Coffee and cookies are served. For more information on upcoming seminars, go to our website and check the events tab: bioengineering.gmu.edu
For visitors from outside Mason – Parking is best in the Shenandoah Parking Garage ( Bldg. 43 on the campus map) and the seminar is in the Nguyen Engineering Building (# 37):
http://info.gmu.edu/Maps/FairfaxMap14lttrClr
BIOENGINEERING SEMINAR
When: Thursday – February 26th, 2015 @ 1:30 -2:30 PM
Location: ENGR 3507
Speaker:
Jamal Zweit, Ph.D., D.Sc.,
Professor of Radiology, and Director of Center for Molecular Imaging, Virginia Commonwealth University
Title:
Molecular Imaging and Nanotechnology in Cancer Biology and Therapeutics
Biography:
Dr. Zweit is a professor of Radiology, and affiliate professor of Radiation Oncology, Molecular Pathology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Chemistry at VCU. He is the Director of the Center for Molecular
Imaging and a senior member of the Massey Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. He leads an inter-disciplinary and inter-collaborative molecular imaging research program that emphasizes multi-modality approaches to study biochemical
and biological pathways in vivo. Professor Zweit’s research interests include the development of paradigms for molecular imaging, targeted therapeutics and nanotechnology strategies for preclinical and clinical translational research. His current research
interests include radiopharmaceutical developments, Multi-modal probes, nanotechnology platforms, Tumor microenvironment, hybrid molecular imaging, and theranostic anti-cancer agents.
He is internationally recognized for his work in molecular imaging of cancer drug development, and conducted the “world’s first” Molecular PET Imaging clinical trial of Anti-angiogenic therapy in cancer patients
(Journal National Cancer Institute 2002).
He serves on the review body of a number of funding organizations, both in Europe and North America. He has supervised more than 25 MSc, MD and PhD theses. He has published more than 100 peer reviewed articles, over 250 conference abstracts,
and several review articles and book chapters, as well as a few patents.
Abstract:
Molecular Imaging is concerned with the study of underlying biological pathways associated with disease processes and the working of therapies within the intact
in vivo environment. Molecular nanotechnology deals with the applications of nano-materials in cell biology, drug delivery, targeted therapy and diagnostics. Combining molecular imaging with nanotechnology offers a powerful platform to specifically
image and study multifunctional pathways associated with cancer biology and therapeutics. The Center for Molecular Imaging (CMI) at VCU, is a state-of-the-art multi-modality research facility, with expertise in molecular imaging Science (PET/SPECT/CT; MRI/MRS,
Optical and Photoaccoustic imaging). The imaging technologies are underpinned by developments of targeted agents, including multi-modal hybrid nano-probes. Within the context of cancer biology and therapy, the combination of molecular imaging and nanotechnology
offers real time investigations of tumor progression, the role of tumor micro-environment, and the interrogation of therapeutic interventions, all within the intact tumor and normal tissue environments. This presentation will highlight CMI research in these
areas; which include i) image-guided chemotherapy, ii) radio-nanoparticle imaging and therapy; iii) dual-modal PET/MR imaging; iv) tumor associated microenvironment and v) image-guided normal tissue radioprotection. These research platforms highlight the use
of combined technologies to enhance research in cancer biology and therapy within intact live subjects.
Claudia Borke
Program Administrator
Volgenau School of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering
3800 Nguyen Engineering Building, 1G5
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
Phone: (703) 993-4190
Fax: (703) 993-2077