Dr. Xiankai Sun
Professor, Radiology and Biomedical Engineering
Jack Krohmer Professor in Radiation Physics
Director, Cyclotron and Radiochemistry Program, Department of Radiology & Advanced Imaging Research Center
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Presents
Professor, Radiology and Biomedical Engineering
Jack Krohmer Professor in Radiation Physics
Director, Cyclotron and Radiochemistry Program, Department of Radiology & Advanced Imaging Research Center
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Presents
Molecular Design of Diagnostic Agents and the Potential Role of Artificial Intelligence
Date: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Time: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Location: Rogers 210
Abstract:
Despite its established utility in various cancers, positron emission tomography (PET) has not yet been adopted as a standard-of-care imaging test for kidney cancer, which is currently assessed through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), X-ray, cystoscopy, and nephron-ureteroscopy. Leveraging the Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Kidney Cancer, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, UT Southwestern has committed to unlocking PET’s potential for molecular profiling of kidney cancer aimed at precision treatment and non-invasive monitoring post-treatment. This presentation will offer a benchtop-to-bedside example of molecular imaging probe development for kidney cancer, from the laboratory bench to clinical application. Furthermore, the presentation will explore the emerging role of artificial intelligence (AI) in this field from a chemical perspective.
Short Bio:
Dr. Xiankai Sun obtained his B.S. in Physical Chemistry from Wuhan University, China, M.S. in Inorganic Chemistry from Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry on design and synthesis of supramolecular clusters with pre-designed symmetries from the University of New Hampshire (Durham, NH). After three years of postdoctoral training and then a junior faculty stay at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2004, he joined the faculty of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas (UT Southwestern), where he is now a tenured full professor on the Graduate Program of Biomedical Engineering and the Graduate Tracks of Biomedical Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the United States Department of Defense, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, and other funding agencies, his research focuses on the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic (theranostic) agents for early diagnosis and treatment of biological abnormalities including cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. Endowed by the Dr. Jack Krohmer Professorship in Radiation Physics since 2012, Dr. Sun directs the Cyclotron and Radiochemistry Program at UT Southwestern.