Develops and engineers new imaging instrumentation, algorithms, and agents for in vivo molecular imaging in small animals. The Center uses in vivo imaging of unique animal models to answer key biological questions of collaborators. It also focuses upon translating scientific discoveries and new imaging approaches into the clinic such as the current trials of for near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging and non-invasive PET and optical imaging for nodal staging of cancer.

The CMI team:

Eva M. Sevick-Muraca, PhD – Professor and Cullen Chair

John C. Rasmussen, PhD – Associate Professor

Melissa Aldrich, PhD – Associate Professor

Banghe Zhu PhD– Associate Professor

The Mission of the Center for Molecular Imaging (CMI) is to develop and apply new in vivo imaging technologies and imaging agents for the study biological processes in disease and health as well as to translate new molecular imaging approaches for enhanced clinical diagnostics.

The Center for Molecular Imaging (CMI) consists of an interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers who focus upon multi-modality molecular imaging including nuclear imaging, x-ray computed tomography, bioluminescence, fluorescence, and our specialty, near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence to enable new understandings in several disease states.  In addition to having its own basic science and clinical research projects, the team also operates a “collaboration” center where clinicians and basic scientists from across the Texas Medical Center partner with CMI members to effectively apply diagnostics in preclinical and clinical studies.  Our team effectively translates new NIR molecular imaging technologies literally from “bench-to-bedside.” The CMI is one of four Centers in the U.S. comprising the National Cancer Institute’s Network for Translational Research.