Cancer Diagnostics

Overview

The Oncological Sciences Center specifically fosters interdisciplinary teams of engineers and scientist to develop novel diagnostics and therapeutic devices. This program leverages the expertise of our members in Nanotechnology, Engineering, and Cancer Biology. Purdue University has excellent facilities and resources provided by the Birck Nanotechnology Center, Bindley Bioscience Center, and translational partners at IUSOM and the Mayo Clinic.

The objective of the Diagnostic Devices program is to design, develop and implement solutions for novel diagnostics and novel therapeutics for cancer. These solutions include the creation of nanoparticles capable of being or carrying specific agents that enhance diagnostic imaging, tools for ultrasensitive detection and quantification of biomarkers, technologies for non-invasive detection of cancer cells, and nanovectors able to selectively or specifically target solid primary or metastatic tumors. Overall, the broad objectives are to enable earlier detection of malignancy and more effective destruction of tumors with reduced patient morbidity. Simultaneously, the nanotechnology-based agents and tools will also be useful for basic mechanistic studies of cancer biology especially for understanding tumor progression.

Multiple thematic/programmatic areas are the focus of this program including molecular imaging and early detection, in vivo imaging, and multi-functional therapeutics utilizing top-down and bottom-up nanotechnology platforms, folate receptor mediated cancer targeting polymer-based metal and biological nanoparticles for therapeutics, novel nucleic acid based nanocarriers, and development of nanotechnology-based devices and sensors. Other areas in multifunctional microlaboratory bioprobe technology and optical fiber based biosensors.

People

The OSC Cancer Nanotechnology projects show the clear breadth and depth of expertise and the strong teams that are in place now to apply nanotechnology in cancer with a goal towards clinical translation.

Muhammed Ashraf Alam , Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Stephen Beaudoin, Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering

Donald E. Bergstrom, Walther Professor, Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology

Charles A. Bouman, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

V. Jo Davisson, Professor, Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology

Ji-Xin Cheng, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Edward J. Delp, Professor, Electrical and Computer

Timothy Fisher, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Jayavat Gore, Vincent P. Reilly Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Mark A. Green, Professor, Industrial Engineering

Robert E. Hannemann, Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Joseph Irudayaraj, Associate Professor, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Albena Ivanisevic, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering

David B. Janes, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Michael R. Ladisch, Distinguished Professor, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

James F. Leary, Professor of Basic Medical Sciences, Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Gil Lee, Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering

Philip S. Low, Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor, Chemistry

Chang Lu, Assistant Professor, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Mark S. Lundstrom, Scifres Distinguished Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

John A. Morgan, Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering

David Marshall Porterfiled, Associate Professor, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Arvid Raman, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Doraiswami Ramkrishna, Harry Creighton Peffer Distinguished Professor, Chemical Engineering

Jenna L. Rickus, Assistant Professor, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Ann E. Rundell, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Timothy D. Sands, Basil S. Turner Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Cagri Savran, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Kevin J. Webb ,Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Alex Wei, Associate Professor, Chemistry

You-Yeon Won, Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering

Babak Ziaie, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering