The Grubbs group discovers new catalysts and studies their fundamental chemistry and applications. Catalysts facilitate the transformation of organic molecules and are used widely in industry and academia for the preparation of important organic compounds and polymers. A family of catalysts for the interconversion of olefins, the olefin metathesis reaction has been discovered in the Grubbs laboratory. In addition to their broad usage in academic research, these catalysts are now used commercially to prepare new pharmaceuticals, composites for structural applications and for the conversion of biorenewable carbon sources into fuels and commodity chemicals. Catalysts for other useful transformations are also being developed and studied in detail.

His more recent awards have included the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2005), Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry (2000), Pauling Award Medal 2003), Havinga Medal (2006) (Leiden University), Golden Plate Award (2006) (Academy of Achievement), Gold Medal of the American Institute of Chemists (2010) 8 ACS Awards including: Polymer Chemistry (1995), Arthur C. Cope Award (2002), Award for Creative Invention (2009), ACS Roger Adams Award in Organic Chemistry (2011), Giulio Natta Award for Chemistry (2014). He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences (1989), Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1994), the Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2006), Fellows of the American Chemical Society (2009), ACS Polymer Division Fellow (2010), Gold Medal of the American Institute of Chemists, Chemical Heritage Foundation (2010). He has been awarded many honorary degrees, the most recent being an Honorary Degree of DSc from University of Warwick, Coventry (2010), Honors Causa Doctrorate, Univerdidad de Huelva, Spain (2012), Commencement Speaker at KAUST, Jeddah, SA (2012), and RWTH Aachen University Honorary Doctorate (Dr.rer.nat.h.c.) (2013). He has 580+ publications and 129+ patents based on his research.

The objective of Emory QIN project is to establish quantitative, high resolution, volumetric magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) as a primary biomarker for predicting and monitoring treatment response in human brain tumors. The technology will be applied to a trial of a promising histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, in combination with standard therapy in patients with glioblastoma (GBM). In addition, we apply our technology in surgical planning as well as radiation planning for GBM patients. GBM resection using neuronavigation based on contrast-enhanced MRI (CE-MRI) results in a high rate of local recurrence, as infiltrating tumor cells extend beyond areas of contrast enhancement. Integrating metabolic maps from MRSI into neuronavigation may identify high-risk tumor infiltration zones outside of CE-MRI for surgery. While CE-MRI images tumor vasculature, MRSI directly images tumor cells via their altered metabolism. Coupling MRSI with fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) using 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) may provide a means to enhance the degree of tumor resection further.

Dr. Nolan's laboratory works on a number of single cell analysis and imaging approaches.  I will discuss recent advances in multiparameter mass based detection of cellular components (proteins, mRNA, protein-DNA contacts) in flow cytometric and histology based platforms using CyTOF and MIBI.  I will detail research (iPS cells) and clinical applications (immune based detection of trauma & recovery, AML) as well as computational approaches to analyze the data produced on these and other high parameter platforms we are developing.

Many important biological processes – ranging from simple metabolism to complex cognition – take place deep inside living organisms, yet our ability to study them in this context is very limited. Technologies such as fluorescent proteins and optogenetics enable exquisitely precise imaging and control of cellular function in small, translucent specimens using visible light, but are limited by the poor penetration of such light into larger tissues. In contrast, most non-invasive technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound – while based on energy forms that penetrate tissue effectively – lack the needed molecular precision. Our work attempts to bridge this gap by engineering new molecular technologies that connect penetrant energy to specific aspects of cellular function in vivo. In this talk, I will describe molecular reporters for non-invasive imaging using MRI and ultrasound developed by adapting and engineering naturally occurring proteins. These proteins have physical properties, such as paramagnetism or self-assembly into hollow nanostructures, that allow them to be sensitively detected with MRI and ultrasound. By engineering them at the genetic level, we have adapted these natural constructs into non-invasive molecular reporters of biological processes ranging from gene expression to chemical neurotransmission.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic progressive disease, affecting the medium and large arteries, in which lipid-triggered inflammation plays a pivotal role. The major clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis are coronary artery disease (CAD), leading to acute myocardial infarction (MI) and sudden cardiac death; cerebrovascular disease, leading to stroke; and peripheral arterial disease, leading to ischemic limbs and viscera. These complications of atherosclerosis are leading causes of death worldwide. Despite progress in medical and revascularization therapies for atherothrombotic disease, the incidence of MI and stroke remain high under the current standard of care, and the past decade has generated few new medical therapies to prevent atherosclerosis-induced events. Similarly, current diagnostic approaches to atherosclerosis do not accurately identify those individuals who will suffer an ischemic complication. The field of atherosclerosis is therefore ripe for reengineering in both the therapeutic and diagnostic arenas. Research into the process of atheroma lesion development and maturation has implicated many immune cells including lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and neutrophils. The most numerous cells in atherosclerotic plaque are macrophages, which are leukocytes that are central to the innate immunity. Because they play a major role in instigating plaque development and complication—both of which are inflammation-related disease processes—leukocytes are promising targets for more effective atherosclerosis treatments. However, the complexity of the immune system and its role as a defensive force against infection require novel tools to very precisely identify and treat the inflammatory cells that promote atherosclerosis. Biomedical engineering offers unique possibilities for diagnosing and treating atherosclerotic plaque inflammation. Thus, interfacing engineering with immunology will be essential to meaningful advances in disease management.

Prof. Jae Sung Lee's laboratory primarily works on the development of advanced technologies for hybrid biomedical imaging systems, such as PET/MRI and PET/CT. For the last couple of years, we have developed a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM)-based MRI-compatible preclinical PET system that has a relatively long axial field-of-view and high spatial resolution optimized for small animal imaging. In this talk, I will present this system and simultaneous PET/MRI studies in mice to demonstrate the feasibility of the developed system for evaluating the biochemical and cellular changes in a brain tumor model and facilitating the development of new multimodal imaging probes. In addition, we have focused on the development of advanced time-of-flight (TOF) PET system that is based on position-sensitive high quantum efficiency (HQE) photomultiplier tubes, yielding better timing resolution with smaller cross sectional (3 x 3 x 20 mm) lutetium based scintillation crystals than current commercial PET systems. The results of various phantom studies to demonstrate the superb timing performance of this system will be presented.

Evidence Based Hypothesis: ALPHA (Acidic lactate sequentially induced lymphangiogenes, phlebogenesis, and arteriogenesis) Lactate triggered glycyolytic vasculogenesis which complements the traditional concept of hypoxia-based vasculogenesis

The importance of vasculogenesis for cancer has been clearly established. Vasculogenesis for aerobic cancers is well known, however vasculogenesis for glycolysis (ALPHA) has only recently been described. The major tenents of glycolytic vasculogenesis differ remarkably from aerobic metabolism, in that oxygen/arteries are not as important as waste products and drainage vessels. Glycolysis uses only glucose which diffuses well and is actively transported, but it also makes large amounts of lactate which must be cleared. Lymphatics and veins are needed to clear and reduce lactate to prevent excessive lactate levels. Moderate lactate level acts a powerful procancer modulator (source of building substrates, cellular motility, invasiveness, etc). However, high lactate levels causes end product inhibition or low pH which slows or inhibits glycolysis. When this occurs, ATP and essential building substrates from glycolytic side reactions are reduced preventing cell growth, division, and proliferation. To produce vasculogenesis, lactate independent of oxygenation levels (normoxia, hypoxia, or hyperoxia) induces Hypoxia Induction factor (HIF1a), vascular growth factors and attracts angioblastic stem cells. The ensuing vessel morphogenesis and development sequentially produces lymphatics first, then veins, and arteries. This sequence has been confirmed by numerous animal model studies (de novo cancer, transfected VEGF gene, corneal growth factor implants, tumor xenografts).

From an imaging perspective, the ALPHA vasculogenesis concept provides new insights into the biologic basis of imaging perfusion measurements using CT and MRI. Contrary to the traditional theory, increased arterialization alone has not been useful for characterizing cancer. The perfusion parameters which have proven most useful are blood volume, contrast washout, kinetic curve analysis and Ktrans/Kep permeability. These are mostly dependent upon veins rather than arteries. Kinetic curve analysis and contrast washout depend on venous outflow. Vessel permeability measured by Ktrans and Kep occurs in the veins. Veins are the major contributor to total blood volume.

This presentation will focus on some non-traditional approaches to prepare PET radiopharmaceuticals for new targets to image the human brain, and aims to show the intricacies of developing PET radiopharmaceuticals from "bench to bedside". Specifically, cutting-edge approaches and technologies for imaging the dopaminergic pathway with PET, as well as our recent work to expand beyond the "amyloid cascade hypothesis" of Alzheimer's disease, including tauopathies, will be presented. Several of the neuroimaging agents have also been applied as oncology probes. The intricacies of transitioning labeled compounds to PET radiopharmaceuticals and our aspiration to work towards the ultimate, albeit impossible, goal in the field: to radiolabel virtually any compound for PET will be raised as points for discussion.