Our research focuses primarily on developing molecularly targeted radiotracers for noninvasive imaging of various diseases and disease-related biomarkers using positron emission tomography (PET) and for targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy of cancers. For this, we employ a variety of molecular scaffolds, including small molecules, peptides, and antibodies, and radiolabel them with appropriate radionuclides, such as fluorine-18, radioiodines, or zirconium-89 for imaging. Once successfully validated, the resulting imaging agents can have wide-ranging applications in the diagnosis and treatment of specific diseases and aid in new drug development. The work involves a multidisciplinary approach and collaborations with several other experts, including chemists, biologists, physicists, and physicians, to successfully advance the most promising radiopharmaceutical products for human use.
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven)
Belgium
PhD - Radiopharmaceutical Sciences
Nuclear Pharmacist (ANP)
A concise review on MDM2 inhibitors and recent progress in radiopharmaceutical development for imaging MDM2 expression in tumors with PET or SPECT.
A concise review on MDM2 inhibitors and recent progress in radiopharmaceutical development for imaging MDM2 expression in tumors with PET or SPECT. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2025 Dec 15; 129:130394.
PMID: 40914210
Synthesis of DOTA-Based 43Sc Radiopharmaceuticals Using Cyclotron-Produced 43Sc as Exemplified by [43Sc]Sc-PSMA-617 for PSMA PET Imaging.
Synthesis of DOTA-Based 43Sc Radiopharmaceuticals Using Cyclotron-Produced 43Sc as Exemplified by [43Sc]Sc-PSMA-617 for PSMA PET Imaging. Methods Protoc. 2025 Jun 04; 8(3).
PMID: 40559446
Efficient Synthesis and HPLC-Based Characterization for Developing Vanadium-48-Labeled Vanadyl Acetylacetonate as a Novel Cancer Radiotracer for PET Imaging.
Efficient Synthesis and HPLC-Based Characterization for Developing Vanadium-48-Labeled Vanadyl Acetylacetonate as a Novel Cancer Radiotracer for PET Imaging. Molecules. 2024 Feb 09; 29(4).
PMID: 38398551
Accelerator-Based Production of Scandium Radioisotopes for Applications in Prostate Cancer: Toward Building a Pipeline for Rapid Development of Novel Theranostics.
Accelerator-Based Production of Scandium Radioisotopes for Applications in Prostate Cancer: Toward Building a Pipeline for Rapid Development of Novel Theranostics. Molecules. 2023 Aug 13; 28(16).
PMID: 37630292
Stapled peptides as scaffolds for developing radiotracers for intracellular targets: Preliminary evaluation of a radioiodinated MDM2-binding stapled peptide in the SJSA-1 osteosarcoma model.
Stapled peptides as scaffolds for developing radiotracers for intracellular targets: Preliminary evaluation of a radioiodinated MDM2-binding stapled peptide in the SJSA-1 osteosarcoma model. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2022 06 15; 66:128725.
PMID: 35436588
Fluorine-18 Labeling of the MDM2 Inhibitor RG7388 for PET Imaging: Chemistry and Preliminary Evaluation.
Fluorine-18 Labeling of the MDM2 Inhibitor RG7388 for PET Imaging: Chemistry and Preliminary Evaluation. Mol Pharm. 2021 10 04; 18(10):3871-3881.
PMID: 34523337
Feasibility of Developing Radiotracers for MDM2: Synthesis and Preliminary Evaluation of an 18F-Labeled Analogue of the MDM2 Inhibitor SP-141.
Feasibility of Developing Radiotracers for MDM2: Synthesis and Preliminary Evaluation of an 18F-Labeled Analogue of the MDM2 Inhibitor SP-141. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2021 Apr 13; 14(4).
PMID: 33924734
Increased Glutaminolysis Marks Active Scarring in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Progression.
Increased Glutaminolysis Marks Active Scarring in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Progression. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020; 10(1):1-21.
PMID: 31881361
Observations on the Effects of Residualization and Dehalogenation on the Utility of N-Succinimidyl Ester Acylation Agents for Radioiodination of the Internalizing Antibody Trastuzumab.
Observations on the Effects of Residualization and Dehalogenation on the Utility of N-Succinimidyl Ester Acylation Agents for Radioiodination of the Internalizing Antibody Trastuzumab. Molecules. 2019 Oct 30; 24(21).
PMID: 31671554
Synthesis and Evaluation of a 18F-Labeled Triazinediamine Analogue for Imaging Mutant IDH1 Expression in Gliomas by PET.
Synthesis and Evaluation of a 18F-Labeled Triazinediamine Analogue for Imaging Mutant IDH1 Expression in Gliomas by PET. ACS Med Chem Lett. 2018 Jul 12; 9(7):606-611.
PMID: 30034587