Co-Leaders:
Gregory Lanza, MD, PhD: Medicine, WU Med. School
Michael Tomasson, MD, PhD: Medicine, WU Med. School
Investigators:
Steven Fletcher, PhD: U. Maryland School of Pharm
Ed Prochownik, MD: U. Pitt Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
Project 2:
Leader: Samuel Achilefu, PhD, FRSC: Radiology, WU Med. School
Investigators:
Pratim Biswas, PhD: WU School of Engineering
Katherine Weilbaecher, MD: Medicine, WU Med. School
Monica Shokeen, PhD: Radiology, WU Med. School
Kareem Azab, PhD: Radiation Oncology, WU Med. School
Project 3:
Leader: John DiPersio, MD, PhD: Medicine, WU Med. School
Investigators:
Michael Rettig, PhD: Medicine, WU Med. School
Matthew Cooper, PhD: Medicine, WU Med. School
Monica Shokeen, PhD: Radiology, WU Med. School
Kareem Azab, PhD: Radiation Oncology, WU Med. School
Core Resources:
Core 1:
Leader: Kooresh Shoghi, PhD: Radiology, WU Med. School
Co-leaders:
Yongjian Liu, PhD: Radiology, WU Med. School
Monica Shokeen, PhD: Radiology, WU Med. School
Core 2: Data Management
Leader: Fred Prior, PhD: Biomedical Informatics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Co-Leader: Malcolm Tobias, PhD: Radiology, WU Med. School
Training and Outreach Program:
Leader: Monica Shokeen, PhD: Radiology, WU Med. School
Co-Leader: Joseph Culver, PhD: Radiology, WU Med. School
Developmental Research Program
Co-Leaders:
Ravi Vij, MD: Medicine, WU Med. School
Samuel Achilefu, PhD, FRSC: Radiology, WU Med. School
Administration:
Center Executive Administrative Professional: Brenda Phelps
Center Research Administrator: Paige Isom
Principal Investigators
The Center for Multiple Myeloma Nanotherapy (CMMN) is an interdisciplinary program that spans across the Washington University campus, its medical school and the Siteman Cancer Center. Leaders of CMMN are:
Program Director and Principal Investigator
Professor of Radiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, & Biomedical Engineering
Achilefu is a pioneer in the development of molecular imaging probes and nanomaterials for imaging and treatment of cancer. He currently leads the translation of innovative imaging technologies and molecular probes from bench to bedside.
Co-Director and Principal Investigator
Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering
Lanza is a distinguished leader in the development and translation of nanomaterials to the clinic. He has extensive experience in the practice of medicine, nanomedicine research and development, and pharmaceutical development in large industry as well as small biotechnology start-ups.
Washington University School of Medicine’s 2,100 employed and volunteer faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals.
The School of Medicine is one of the leading medical research, teaching and patient-care institutions in the nation, currently ranked sixth in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.
Myeloma is a type of cancer that develops from cells in the bone marrow called plasma cells. Bone marrow is the spongy tissue found inside the inner part of some of our large bones. The bone marrow produces different types of blood cells.
Myeloma can develop wherever there are plasma cells. So it can be anywhere there is bone marrow, including the pelvis, spine and ribcage. As it can occur in several places in the body, it is often called multiple myeloma.
Nanomedicine is the medical application of nanotechnology, ranging from the medical applications of nanomaterials and biological devices, to nanoelectronic biosensors, and even possible future applications of molecular nanotechnology such as biological machines.
Despite tremendous improvements in patient management, nearly all multiple myeloma (MM) patients will eventually relapse and die from it. Leveraging the enormous institutional resources and support, diverse expertise in MM, the integral participation of patient advocates, industry partners, and synergistic integration of basic and clinical investigators, the CMMN will serve as a comprehensive center for the development of nanotechnology-based solutions for treating MM and bone metastasis.