Shili Xu, PhD

Dr. Shili Xu is interested in the development of in vivo multimodal state-of-the-art molecular imaging technologies, including positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and optical (fluorescence and bioluminescence) imaging. He applies these technologies for non-invasive assessment of cancer, immune response, neurological disorders, cardiology and associated biology, as well as preclinical probe and drug development in small animal models. Specifically, his team has developed a broad spectrum of PET probes and reporter genes to preclinically image cell metabolism, monitor cell trafficking and activation and profile drug pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics and tracer kinetics. Combining PET and SPECT imaging, his team develops translational theranostic radiopharmaceuticals for cancer management.

Han M, Bushong EA, Wolf DM, Tiard A, Wong A, Brady MR, Momcilovic M, Segawa M, Zhang R, Petcherski A, Madany M, Xu S, JT LEE, MV Poyurovsky, Olszewski K, Holloway T, Gomez A, John MS, Lisberg A, Dubinett SM, Koehler CM, Shirihai O, Stiles L, Soatto S, Sadeghi S, Ellisman MH, Shackelford DB. 3-dimensional mapping of mitochondrial networks defines diverse bioenergetic phenotypes in lung cancer. Nature. 2023. 615(7953):712-719.

Narayanam MK, Tsang JE, Xu S, Nathason DA, Murphy JM. ¹⁸F-Labeled brain-penetrant EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors for PET imaging of glioblastoma. Chem Sci 2023. 14(47):13825-13831.

Bailleul J, Ruan Y, Abdulrahman L, Scott AJ, Yazal T, Sung D, Park K, Hoang H, Nathaniel J, Chu FI, Palomera D, Sehgal A, Tsang JE, Nathanson DA, Xu S, Park JO, Ten Hoeve J, Bhat K, Qi N, Kornblum HI, Schaue D, McBride WH, Lyssiotis CA, Wahl DR, Vlashi E. PKM2 rewires glucose metabolism during radiation therapy to promote an antioxidant response and glioblastoma radioresistance. Neuro Oncol. 2023. 25(11):1989-2000.

Zhao X, Chen G, Zhou Y, Nashalian A, Xu J, Tat T, Song Y, Libanori A, Xu S, Li S, Chen J. Giant Magnetoelastic effect enabled stretchable sensor for self-powered biomonitoring. ACS Nano. 2022. 16(4):6013-6022.

Xu S, Herschman HR. Comparison of the efficacy and sensitivity of alternative PET Reporter Gene/PET Reporter Probe systems that minimizes biological variables. Methods in Molecular Biology, 2020, 2126:177-190