Scientist profiles A-F

Administrative Assistant: Kim Allen
Phone: 416-480-6100 ext. 65718
Email: kimberly.allen@sunnybrook.ca

Education:

• B.A.Sc., 1996, engineering science, University of Toronto, Canada
• PhD, 2002, medical biophysics, U of T, Canada

Appointments and Affiliations:

• Senior scientist, Physical Sciences, Schulich Heart Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Associate professor, department of medical biophysics, U of T

Research Foci:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) physics
• Contrast agents
• Molecular imaging

Research Summary:

We are primarily focused on making images and measurements using the enzymes within living tissue, and studying how these change in disease. A recently developed method is used in which 13C-labeled biomolecules are prepared with a magnetic signal so they can be imaged using MRI. To do this, dynamic nuclear polarization is applied in order to magnetize concentrated samples of a substrate, such as 13C-labeled pyruvate, and the resulting solution is injected in vivo.

This new form of MRI contrast agent exhibits a change in frequency after its molecular structure has been changed. This can occur when carbon-13 labeled substrates are metabolized by cells, allowing direct imaging of metabolic enzyme reactions in living tissue. One important question being investigated is whether this new measurement provides the oncologist with more information about aggressive cancers, visible through increased lactate signal, as well as improved treatment options by enabling focal therapy and treatment response measurements.

We are also interested in the metabolic characterization of damaged heart muscle in order to detect the early stages of heart failure and select therapies, as well as metabolic characterization of cancer as a possible method for staging and for measuring response to therapy.

In addition a growing segment of the laboratory is investigating the fabrication of disposable medical devices, such as catheters and needles, that are designed to be useful in MRI-guided procedures. This project has a strong commercialization component.

Selected Publications:

See current publications list at PubMed.

1. Dominguez Viqueira W, Lau AZ, Chen AP, Cunningham CH. Multichannel receiver coils for improved coverage in cardiac metabolic imaging using prepolarized (13) C substrates. Magn Reson Med. 2013 Jul;70(1):295–300.
2. Chen AP, Hurd RE, Schroeder MA, Lau AZ, Gu YP, Lam WW, Barry J, Tropp J, Cunningham CH. Simultaneous investigation of cardiac pyruvate dehydrogenase flux, Krebs cycle metabolism and pH, using hyperpolarized [1,2-(13)C2]pyruvate in vivo. NMR Biomed. 2012 Feb;25(2):305–311.
3. Chen AP, Hurd RE, Cunningham CH. Spin tagging for hyperpolarized ¹³C metabolic studies. J Magn Reson. 2012 Jan;214(1):319–323.
4. Lau AZ, Chen AP, Hurd RE, Cunningham CH. Spectral-spatial excitation for rapid imaging of DNP compounds. NMR Biomed. 2011 Oct;24(8):988–996.
5. Chen AP, Hurd RE, Gu YP, Wilson DM, Cunningham CH. (13)C MR reporter probe system using dynamic nuclear polarization. NMR Biomed. 2011 Jun;24(5):514–520.

Related News and Stories:

• The promise of metabolic imaging in medicine: A tool showing real-time processing of energy sources could yield new insights into the workings of the brain and guide treatment of a range of diseases (Nov. 8, 2019)
• Be still my beating heart: Study is the first to enable biochemical reactions in the heart to be seen with MRI using a novel contrast agent (SRI Magazine, 2017)
• SRI scientists top the national average in successful CIHR project grants: Over a dozen projects approved (June 2, 2017)
• Sunnybrook Research Institute presents biomedical engineering student with prestigious prize: Undergraduates compete for a chance to win cash award (Jan. 11, 2016)
• A New Dawn for Cardiac Imaging: Hyperpolarized MRI could help us understand heart disease progression—and how to stop it before our hardest-working muscle wears out (SRI Magazine, 2015)
• Anatomy of a startup: Research day bridges gap between innovation and commercialization (June 19, 2014)
• Driving progress: National health research agency funds a dozen SRI scientists (April 25, 2014)
• The heart of innovation: Research day showcases latest developments in cardiac care (Nov. 27, 2013)
• Discoverers' recompense: Scientists recognized for innovation in prostate cancer research (July 18, 2013)
• Out of the dark: SRI scientist invents device to navigate the blackest channels of the heart (SRI Magazine, 2011)
• Physicist wins Premier Young Researcher Award: Canadian Institutes of Health Research presents Sunnybrook scientist with top honour (Dec. 3, 2008)
• Conference consummation: The Imaging Network Ontario met for its sixth and perhaps final research symposium, and a keynote theme was progress (May 8, 2007)

Related Links:

• Cardiovascular MRI research group
• Centre for Molecular and Cellular Response and Repair (CMCRR)
  
• Centre for Research in Image-Guided Therapeutics 
• U of T profile, department of medical biophysics