Research Areas

• Targeted Contrast Agents

  The BENMD Program has developed robust methods for synthesizing targeted contrast agents based on near-infrared fluorophores. Especially, Structure-Inherent Targeting (SIT) strategy plays an important role for image-guided surgical interventions by specifically visualizing target tissue with superior optical properties and by avoiding nonspecific uptake in normal background tissues.

• Image-Guided Drug Delivery

  Armed with the ability to a priori engineer targeted contrast agents, we are interested in developing ideal theranostic nanocarriers that exhibit extended systemic circulation, rapid distribution, and excretion from normal tissues/organs via renal excretion after complete targeting of the target site, while also avoiding nonspecific uptake by the immune system.

• Immuno-Oncology Imaging

  Another mission of our lab is to create a novel medical imaging methodology and advance our understanding of immunology and immunotherapy. Our central focus has been to develop a new imaging technology to dissect the immune response in the context of cancer, allergy and infectious diseases with an ultimate goal of translating the knowledge to the clinical practice.

• Bioimaging Devices

  Bioimaging devices are the enabling technology for successful (pre)clinical research of our BENMD Program. We have invented multispectral and multiscale near-infrared fluorescence imaging systems that permit the simultaneous visualization of anatomy and function in real-time, with high sensitivity and no moving parts.

• Clinical Translations

  Our final goal is to translate our imaging technology to the clinic. Based on the first principles of chemistry, engineering, and biology, we have defined the relationship among the key independent variables of targeted agents that dictate biodistribution and tissue-specific targeting in various animal models including mice, rats, and pigs.