Research Summary

I have over 25 years’ experience with the preparation and application of radiopharmaceuticals. I have developed several imaging agents targeting cell surface proteins (receptors, enzymes and transporters) including receptor-based imaging agents for hormone receptors, growth factor receptors, neuroreceptors, and prostate-specific membrane antigen. I have developed imaging agents for cardiac blood flow and metabolism. These imaging agents have included a broad range of molecular motifs from small molecules, antibodies, antibody fragments (e.g., Fabs, scFv, and diabodies), and aptamers, to proteins and peptides. These molecules have been labeled with a variety of isotopes for PET and SPECT imaging. As part of the development of these imaging agents, I have been engaged in the evaluation and validation of the tracer mechanism of localization and retention at the target site. I have prepared several in vitro and in vivo model systems and interpreted the data collected from these systems to determine the utility of the probes. I have successfully translated many of these tracers into humans. I have helped to write and secure several INDs for first-in-human tracer studies.

Over the last 10 years, I have been working on the development of PSMA targeting prostate cancer imaging agents in collaboration with Dr. Clifford Berkman at Washington State University. I am currently PI on a DoD PCRP-funded proposal to prepare these agents for human imaging studies. I am also UCSF PI on an NIH SBIR funded to perform the first-in-man PET/MRI imaging studies. I am currently also evaluating a new agent to measure T cell activation, 18F-FAraG. The pharmacokinetics of agent has been assessed in normal human subjects and will be further evaluated following immunotherapy response."

Research Funding

  • August 12, 2020 - July 31, 2025 - In Vivo PET Imaging of HIV Infection , Co-Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01AI152932
  • January 12, 2021 - December 31, 2022 - Molecular Imaging of persistent HIV: CD30 , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R21AI152936
  • September 15, 2015 - August 31, 2021 - Mitigation of quality and compliance risks in radio-pharmaceutical production by implementation of an automated release testing technology. , Co-Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: U01FD005517
  • August 1, 2015 - July 31, 2021 - Molecular Imaging of Chemical Threats and Countermeasures , Co-Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: U01NS092495
  • September 1, 2018 - December 31, 2020 - Astroglial EAAT2 Changes in Live TBI Brain Determined by PET Imaging , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R41NS105309
  • September 18, 2019 - August 31, 2020 - Improving availability of ImmunoPET via automation of radio-synthesis and quality control of antibody-based cancer imaging PET tracers on a single platform. , Co-Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R43CA235909
  • July 15, 2014 - April 30, 2018 - In vivo reporters of gene expression , Co-Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R21AI114283
  • August 1, 2012 - July 31, 2015 - PET and MR-Compatible Bioreactor for Cross-Platform Biomarker Development , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R21CA171766
  • September 30, 2010 - August 31, 2013 - In Vivo Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Dispositions of Positron Radiolabeled , Co-Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R21NS072079
  • June 1, 2007 - May 31, 2009 - MicroPET/CT for Small Animal Imaging , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: S10RR023051
  • September 5, 2002 - August 31, 2008 - Targeted Molecular Probes for Tumor Imaging , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01CA094253
  • March 10, 2003 - February 29, 2008 - Evaluation of Iodorotenone, A SPECT Perfusion Tracer , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01EB000482
  • August 1, 1980 - August 30, 2002 - MYOCARDIAL FLOW, FUNCTION AND METABOLISM BY PET AND MRI , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: P01HL025840
  • February 1, 1999 - January 31, 2001 - DEVELOPMENT OF CANCER IMAGING AGENTS , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R21CA079823

Education

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, B.S., 1984, Chemistry
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, M.S., 1986, Nuclear Chemistry
Washington University, St. Louis, MO, M.A., 1988, Nuclear Chemistry
Washington University, St. Louis, MO, Ph.D., 1990, Radiopharm. Chemistry
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, Postdoctoral, 1992, Radiopharm. Chemistry

Honors & Awards

  • 1990-1992
    DOE Alexander Hollaender Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Outstanding Performance Award (1993, 1997, 1998, 2000)
  • 2006
    SNM President's Distinguished Service Award

Selected Publications

  1. Bobba KN, Bidkar AP, Meher N, Fong C, Wadhwa A, Dhrona S, Sorlin A, Bidlingmaier S, Shuere B, He J, Wilson DM, Liu B, Seo Y, VanBrocklin HF, Flavell RR. Evaluation of 134Ce/134La as a PET Imaging Theranostic Pair for 225Ac α-Radiotherapeutics. J Nucl Med. 2023 07; 64(7):1076-1082.  View on PubMed
  2. Bidkar AP, Wang S, Bobba KN, Chan E, Bidlingmaier S, Egusa EA, Peter R, Ali U, Meher N, Wadhwa A, Dhrona S, Dasari C, Beckford-Vera D, Su Y, Tang R, Zhang L, He J, Wilson DM, Aggarwal R, VanBrocklin HF, Seo Y, Chou J, Liu B, Flavell RR. Treatment of Prostate Cancer with CD46-targeted 225Ac Alpha Particle Radioimmunotherapy. Clin Cancer Res. 2023 05 15; 29(10):1916-1928.  View on PubMed
  3. Kim SJW, Lupo JM, Chen Y, Pampaloni MH, VanBrocklin HF, Narvid J, Kim H, Seo Y. A feasibility study for quantitative assessment of cerebrovascular malformations using flutriciclamide ([18F]GE-180) PET/MRI. Front Med (Lausanne). 2023; 10:1091463.  View on PubMed
  4. Midha AD, Zhou Y, Queliconi BB, Barrios AM, Haribowo AG, Chew BTL, Fong COY, Blecha JE, VanBrocklin H, Seo Y, Jain IH. Organ-specific fuel rewiring in acute and chronic hypoxia redistributes glucose and fatty acid metabolism. Cell Metab. 2023 03 07; 35(3):504-516.e5.  View on PubMed
  5. Meher N, VanBrocklin HF, Wilson DM, Flavell RR. PSMA-Targeted Nanotheranostics for Imaging and Radiotherapy of Prostate Cancer. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023 Feb 17; 16(2).  View on PubMed
  6. Meher N, Ashley GW, Bidkar AP, Dhrona S, Fong C, Fontaine SD, Beckford Vera DR, Wilson DM, Seo Y, Santi DV, VanBrocklin HF, Flavell RR. Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Targeted Deep Tumor Penetration of Polymer Nanocarriers. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2022 Nov 16; 14(45):50569-50582.  View on PubMed
  7. Levi J, Duan H, Yaghoubi S, Packiasamy J, Huynh L, Lam T, Shaikh F, Behera D, Song H, Blecha J, Jivan S, Seo Y, VanBrocklin HF. Biodistribution of a Mitochondrial Metabolic Tracer, [18F]F-AraG, in Healthy Volunteers. Mol Imaging. 2022; 2022:3667417.  View on PubMed
  8. Polvoy I, Seo Y, Parker M, Stewart M, Siddiqua K, Manacsa HS, Ravanfar V, Blecha J, Hope TA, Vanbrocklin H, Flavell RR, Barry J, Hansen E, Villanueva-Meyer JE, Engel J, Rosenberg OS, Wilson DM, Ohliger MA. Imaging joint infections using D-methyl-11C-methionine PET/MRI: initial experience in humans. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2022 09; 49(11):3761-3771.  View on PubMed
  9. Kumar P, Yee C, Blecha JE, Hayes TR, Kilbride BF, Stillson C, Losey AD, Mastria E, Jordan CD, Huynh TL, Moore T, Wilson MW, VanBrocklin HF, Hetts SW. Evaluating Radioactive Analogs of Doxorubicin to Quantify ChemoFilter Binding and Whole-Body Positron Emission Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Drug Biodistribution. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2022 06; 33(6):687-694.  View on PubMed
  10. Beckford-Vera DR, Flavell RR, Seo Y, Martinez-Ortiz E, Aslam M, Thanh C, Fehrman E, Pardons M, Kumar S, Deitchman AN, Ravanfar V, Schulte B, Wu IK, Pan T, Reeves JD, Nixon CC, Iyer NS, Torres L, Munter SE, Hyunh T, Petropoulos CJ, Hoh R, Franc BL, Gama L, Koup RA, Mascola JR, Chomont N, Deeks SG, VanBrocklin HF, Henrich TJ. First-in-human immunoPET imaging of HIV-1 infection using 89Zr-labeled VRC01 broadly neutralizing antibody. Nat Commun. 2022 03 09; 13(1):1219.  View on PubMed
  11. Bunning S, Ignace C, Mattmuller S, Schwarz SW, Scott PJH, VanBrocklin HF, Zigler SS, Coalition of Drug Manufacturers. Proceedings: PET Drugs-A Workshop on Inspections Management and Regulatory Considerations. J Nucl Med. 2022 07; 63(7):1117-1123.  View on PubMed
  12. Meher N, Seo K, Wang S, Bidkar AP, Fogarty M, Dhrona S, Huang X, Tang R, Blaha C, Evans MJ, Raleigh DR, Jun YW, VanBrocklin HF, Desai TA, Wilson DM, Ozawa T, Flavell RR. Synthesis and Preliminary Biological Assessment of Carborane-Loaded Theranostic Nanoparticles to Target Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2021 Nov 24; 13(46):54739-54752.  View on PubMed
  13. Guglielmetti C, Levi J, Huynh TL, Tiret B, Blecha J, Tang R, VanBrocklin H, Chaumeil MM. Longitudinal Imaging of T Cells and Inflammatory Demyelination in a Preclinical Model of Multiple Sclerosis Using 18F-FAraG PET and MRI. J Nucl Med. 2022 01; 63(1):140-146.  View on PubMed
  14. Hayes TR, Chao CK, Blecha JE, Huynh TL, Zinn KR, Thompson CM, Gerdes JM, VanBrocklin HF. Biological Distribution and Metabolic Profiles of Carbon-11 and Fluorine-18 Tracers of VX- and Sarin-Analogs in Sprague-Dawley Rats. Chem Res Toxicol. 2021 01 18; 34(1):63-69.  View on PubMed
  15. Henrich TJ, Jones T, Beckford-Vera D, Price PM, VanBrocklin HF. Total-Body PET Imaging in Infectious Diseases. PET Clin. 2021 Jan; 16(1):89-97.  View on PubMed
  16. Gonzalez-Junca A, Reiners O, Borrero-Garcia LD, Beckford-Vera D, Lazar AA, Chou W, Braunstein S, VanBrocklin H, Franc BL, Barcellos-Hoff MH. Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of Functional Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ) Activity and Benefit of TGFβ Inhibition in Irradiated Intracranial Tumors. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2021 02 01; 109(2):527-539.  View on PubMed
  17. Huang Y, Zhao N, Wang YH, Truillet C, Wei J, Parker MFL, Blecha JE, Drake CR, VanBrocklin HF, Garrido-Ruiz D, Jacobson MP, Aggarwal R, Behr SC, Flavell RR, Wilson DM, Seo Y, Evans MJ. The Synthesis and Structural Requirements for Measuring Glucocorticoid Receptor Expression In Vivo with (±)-11C-YJH08 PET. J Nucl Med. 2021 05 10; 62(5):723-731.  View on PubMed
  18. Wei J, Wang YH, Lee CY, Truillet C, Oh DY, Xu Y, Ruggero D, Flavell RR, VanBrocklin HF, Seo Y, Craik CS, Fong L, Wang CI, Evans MJ. An Analysis of Isoclonal Antibody Formats Suggests a Role for Measuring PD-L1 with Low Molecular Weight PET Radiotracers. Mol Imaging Biol. 2020 12; 22(6):1553-1561.  View on PubMed
  19. Hayes TR, Blecha JE, Chao CK, Huynh TL, VanBrocklin HF, Zinn KR, Taylor PW, Gerdes JM, Thompson CM. Positron emission tomography evaluation of oxime countermeasures in live rats using the tracer O-(2-[18 F]fluoroethyl)-O-(p-nitrophenyl)methylphosphonate [18 F]-VXS. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2020 11; 1479(1):180-195.  View on PubMed
  20. Aboian MS, Huang SY, Hernandez-Pampaloni M, Hawkins RA, VanBrocklin HF, Huh Y, Vo KT, Gustafson WC, Matthay KK, Seo Y. 124I-MIBG PET/CT to Monitor Metastatic Disease in Children with Relapsed Neuroblastoma. J Nucl Med. 2021 01; 62(1):43-47.  View on PubMed

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