Meet the Principle Investigator
Samuel Achilefu, Ph.D.
Lyda Hill Distinguished University Chair in Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering | Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center | Radiology
Education:
- University of Nancy, France, Ph.D. Molecular Physical & Materials Chemistry
- Oxford University, Oxford, UK, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Oxygen Transport System and Hematology
Faculty
M.S. University of Missouri-Columbia (2001), Veterinary Medicine
Ph.D. University of Missouri-Columbia (2005), Biomedical Engineering
Publications: Find an updated list on his Google Scholar page.
Know more about Dr. Akers on the faculty page.
Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis
Research Interests:
Extracurricular Interests:
Publications:
Know more about Dr. Xu on the Faculty page.
B.S. in Botany, Zoology & Chemistry, Panjab University, India, 2008
M.Sc in Nuclear Medicine, Panjab University, India, 2010
Ph.D in Nuclear Medicine, Panjab University, India, 2016
Research Interests: Development and evaluation of molecular and optical imaging agents for multiple myeloma
Extracurricular Interests: Table tennis, hiking, painting, and yoga
Publications: Find an updated list on her Google Scholar page.
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery （MBBCH）, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
Research Interests: Nanoparticle-drug formulation and fluorescence probes application for cancer and bacteria imaging and therapeutics. Identification of novel fluorescent compounds and photosensitive drugs or nanoparticle platforms for application in pre-clinical and bacteria models for imaging and therapy.
Extracurricular Interests: Playing and watching soccer, watching movies and socializing with friends
Publications: Find an updated list on his Google Scholar page.
PhD - Synthetic Bio-/Organic Chemistry, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO
BS - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX
BS - Philosophy (formal logic and number theory), Trinity University, San Antonio, TX
Research Interests:
Developing dynamic and/or environmentally-responsive imaging agents for selectively detecting, imaging/visualizing, and/or accurately identifying such via fashioning small-molecule-, peptidyl-, and immuno-based constructs towards treating solid tumor cancers (i.e., breast and brain) and any potential downstream metastatic sites, all which also includes such in theranostic or other targeting/delivery vector form;
- Neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s, PD’s, and FTD), clinically-relevant impairing/disabling neurological disorders (depression), and interrogative bio-/chemical approaches towards imaging neurotransmitter synaptic transmission and intraneuronal trafficking of their vesicularized content.
Publications: Find his Goggle Scholar
B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, 2011
Ph.D in Biomedical Engineering, Peking University, China, 2016
Research Interests: Development of optical imaging and sensing technologies for applications in pre-clinical and clinical oncology.
Extracurricular Interests: swimming, soccer
Publications: Find an updated list on his Google Scholar page.
Learn more about him.
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, 2011
M.Sc in Bioengineering, IQS - University Ramon Llull, Barcelona, 2013
Ph.D in Bioengineering, IQS - University Ramon Llull, Barcelona, 2017
Research Interests: Engineering biomaterials for nucleic acid and immunotherapy delivery.
Extracurricular Interests: Hiking, soccer, and cooking.
Publications: Find an updated list on his Google Scholar page.
Staff
B.S. Chemistry, Tribhuvan University
M.S. Chemistry, Tribhuvan University and Southern Illinois University
Ph.D Chemistry, Washington University in St. Louis
Research Interests: Design and synthesis of compounds for imaging and drug delivery.
Extracurricular Interests: Soccer, movies, and traveling
Publications: view his Goggle Scholar page.
B.S. Chemistry, Tribhuvan University
M.S. Chemistry, Tribhuvan University and Southern Illinois University
Ph.D Chemistry, Washington University in St. Louis
Research Interests: Design and synthesis of compounds for imaging and drug delivery.
Extracurricular Interests: Soccer, movies, and traveling
Publications: view his Goggle Scholar page.
Bachelor of Technology, West Bengal University of Technology, India.
Master of Engineering, Jadavpur University, India.
Ph.D., Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay,, India.
Research interests: Design, synthesis, and characterization of nanocomposites for theragnostic applications for Cancer Detection (such as Breast Cancer and Multiple Myeloma) and treatment (e.g. Photosensitizers, ROS Cleavable Prodrugs, and Quantum Dots).
Extracurricular Interests: Photography, Playing Badminton, Travelling and Cooking.
Publications: Find an updated list on his Google Scholar
B.A. Biology w/minor in Chemistry, University of North Texas, 2020
Research Interests: Fluorescence Imaging, Using nanotechnology to influence cancer microenvironment, Radiochemistry
Extracurricular interests: Grand Strategy video games, Watching the Dallas Stars (preferably at American Airlines Center), Going to Texas Country concerts, and Watching my twins grow up
B.S. in Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, 2019
Extracurricular Interests: Reading, pickleball, hiking
Research Interests: B.S. in Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, 2022
Extracurricular Interests: Roller skating, hiking, and visiting new places.
Research Interests:
Extracurricular Interests:
Bachelors in Integrative Studies, University of North Texas, 2016
Master's in Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, 2020
Research Interests: Implementing single-board computers and microcontrollers towards various biomedical applications
Extracurricular Interests: powerlifting, archery, 3-gun shooting, photography, further developing my engineering skillset, cooking
Publications: Integrating a Brain Control Interface towards the Development of a Retrofitted, Low-Cost, Open Sourced, Electric Wheelchair (read more via the link)
Ian earned both his Master's and Bachelor's in biomedical engineering from the University of North Texas, graduating with his Master's in Fall 2021. During his senior design project, he prototyped a device to estimate heart rate in real time from a live video stream. Starting in graduate school, he worked as a teaching assistant where he led the lab portions of biomedical data acquisition and electronics instrumentation courses instructing students in basic circuit design and troubleshooting. After a year of teaching, he joined a team at UNT’s Health Science Center as a research assistant. This group’s goal was to quantify the difference in visuomotor integration between autism spectrum disorder and typically developing populations. As a part of this team, he developed a post-processing pipeline to integrate eye-tracking glasses into an existing virtual-reality and motion-capture recording lab transforming the 2D pixel gaze position recorded by the eye-tracking glasses into a 3D gaze vector.
When he is not at work, you can find him running, at the climbing gym, or cooking.
B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University, China, 2013
M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University, China, 2016
Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, United States, 2022
Research Interests: Differentiating tumor images using machine learning and computer vision tools
Extracurricular Interests: Writing
B.S. in Physics, Peking University, China, 2010
Sc. D. in Advanced Materials and Mechanics, Peking University, China, 2016
Research Interest: Probing constituents and chemical dynamics in live cells/tissues/animals by imaging with endogenous contrast.
Extracurricular interests: Active participant in different sports, including (ranking by experience) volleyball, running, badminton, et al. Publication: full record accessible on Google Scholar.
Postdoctoral Fellows
Chidube A. Alagbaoso earned his BSc (First Class Honours) (2010) and MSc (2015) in Biochemistry from the University of Benin, Nigeria, in the laboratory of Prof. Christopher C. Osubor. He earned his PhD (2021) in Food Biochemistry from Kobe University, Japan, in the laboratory of Prof. Masashi Mizuno, under the Japanese Government Scholarship Program. His graduate research focused on the investigation of cell death mechanisms in intestinal inflammation using dietary fiber. He is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Achilefu Lab in the Biomedical Engineering Department at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. His research is focused on novel mechanisms to image, target, and kill disseminated breast cancer cells, slow down cancer metastasis by targeting indispensable metabolic pathways, and drug design. Outside the lab, he enjoys spending time with his family, listening to highlife music, and going on a long walk to keep fit.
Publications: Chidube A. Alagbaoso - Google Scholar
B.S. in Chemistry, Koc University, Turkey, 2017
M.Sc. in Biochemistry, Ege University, Turkey, 2019
Ph.D. in Chemistry, Koc University, Turkey, 2023
Research Interests: Cancer nanotheranostics
Extracurricular Interests: Travel, fitness and nutrition, volunteering activities
Publications: Find an updated list of publications on her Google Scholar page.
Graduate Students
B.S. in Chemistry w/Minor in Mathematics, University of Minnesota, Twin-Cities, 2015
M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, 2017
Extracurricular Interests: Reading, Travelling, Watching movies and TV programs, Exploring nature
B.S. Xi'an Jiaotong University, China, 2018
Research Interests: Multi-functional nanomaterials for MR imaging, optical imaging and cancer treatment
Extracurricular Interests: Sci-Fi novels, and all sorts of movies
Publications: view his Goggle Scholar page.
Megan Michie
MSTP (MD/PhD) Student
B.A., Classics and Biology, Colby College, 2015
Research Interests: Biomedical optical imaging, specifically developing novel targeted fluorescent probes for cancer imaging
Extracurricular Interests: Running, watching MLB, puzzles, and board games
Lab Alumni
|
Name |
Time |
Role at Achilefu Lab |
Current Placement |
|
Katie Rubitschung |
2023.06-2023.09 |
Graduate rotation student |
Ph.D. Student at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center |
|
Suman Mondal |
2010-2022 |
Ph.D. student, Postdoctoral Fellow, Instructor |
Scientist at Image Guided Therapy at Philips |
|
Christine O’Brien |
2017-2022 |
Postdoctoral Fellow, Instructor |
Assistant Professor at Washington University in St. Louis |
|
Leo Shmuylovich |
2020-2022 |
Postdoctoral Fellow |
Assistant Professor at Washington University in St. Louis |
|
Rui Tang |
2013-2022 |
Instructor |
Instructor |
|
Gail Sudlow |
2008-2021 |
Lab Supervisor |
Retired |
|
Katie Duncan |
2018-2022 |
Lab Technician |
Ph.D. Student at WashU |
|
Hongyu Meng |
2016-2022 |
Ph.D. Student |
Software Development Engineer at Amazon Web Services |
|
Lei Fang |
2016-2022 |
Ph.D. Student |
Software Development Engineer at Amazon |
|
Baogang Xu |
|
Senior Scientist |
Senior Scientist at WashU |
|
Kvar Black |
2017-2022 |
Research Instructor |
Patent Scientist at WashU |
|
Dorota Grabowska |
2012-2022 |
Research Scientist |
Senior Scientist/Research Administrator at WashU |
|
Yixiao Lin |
2021-2022 |
Graduate Rotation Student |
Ph.D. student at WashU |
|
Rachel Mintz |
2021-2022 |
M.D./Ph.D. student |
M.D./Ph.D. student at WashU |
|
Xuefeng Gao |
2015-2022 |
Staff Scientist |
Staff Scientist at WashU |
|
Cathy (Kexian) Liang |
|
Staff Scientist |
Staff Scientist at WashU |
|
Partha Karmakar |
2015-2022 |
Postdoctoral Researcher, Scientist |
Scientific Manager at Chemistry R&D |
|
Julie Prior |
|
Research Lab Manager |
Research Lab Manager at WashU |
|
Brad Manion |
|
Research Assistant |
Research Assistant at WashU |
|
Matthew Mixdorf |
2017-2020 |
Research Assistant |
Quality Improvement Data Analyst at Boston Children's Hospital - GI/CAIR |
|
Kelvin Bishop |
2018-2019 |
Research Technician |
Ph.D. student at the University of Washington |
|
Karen Nwosu |
2019-2021 |
Research Technician |
Clinical Applications Engineer at Intuitive |
|
SEN Shaw-Wei |
|
M.D./Ph.D. student |
Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center |
|
Dolon Maji |
2011-2017 |
Ph.D. Student |
Senior Biologics Project Rep (QTAS, formerly DMPK) |
|
Jessica Miller |
2011-2018 |
M.D./Ph.D. student |
Resident Physician |
|
Daniel Lane |
2014-2021 |
Ph.D. Student |
Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center |
|
LeMoyne Habimana-Griffin |
2011-2019 |
M.D./Ph.D. student |
Resident at Washington University in St. Louis |