# Specialist in Multi-Scale Molecular Imaging of Tumor Environments

> **NIH NIH R50** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2021 · $196,387

## Abstract

Biochemical and physical perturbations in tumor environments, cell signaling pathways, and
transcriptional outputs intersect to control functional heterogeneity of cancer cells. Heterogeneity
exists among populations of cancer cells under different environmental conditions and single
cancer cells even in seemingly identical environments. Discovering mechanisms driving tumor
heterogeneity and its impact on tumor initiation, metastasis, and response to therapy are essential
to success of precision medicine. As an expert in molecular imaging, cancer model systems, and
cancer biology, my challenge is to develop approaches to quantify key processes in cancer
biology, including signaling and metabolism, in complex living systems. My expertise in
fluorescence and bioluminescence imaging make me uniquely qualified to meet this challenge. I
am a pioneer of in vivo bioluminescence imaging of biochemical events, having invented firefly
luciferase complementation. I remain at the forefront of developing new bioluminescence methods
for discovery in cancer. I have a strong record of engineering new reporters and implementing
methods to extend capabilities of in vivo multiphoton microscopy, both with multi-plexed imaging
reporters and fluorescence lifetime imaging. To capture tumor heterogeneity from imaging data,
I write custom image processing code to automatically segment and quantify multiple imaging
reporter signals from thousands of cells. My effort is fully funded by 3 NCI research programs. 1)
Systems Bioengineering of Cancer Cell Migration: Discover mechanisms of gradient formation
driving cancer cell migration through a combination of tissue engineered environments, mouse
tumors, and computational models; 2) Environmental Regulation of Cancer Stem Cell Plasticity
in Metastasis: Establish how physical components of tumor environments regulate breast cancer
stem cells in primary and metastatic sites; and 3) Wireless Implantable Electronic Biosensors for
Tumor Monitoring: Engineer mm-scale implantable biosensors to monitor tumors and detect early
response to therapy based on environmental conditions such as interstitial pressure and pH.
These projects are dynamic, productive multidisciplinary collaborations among myself, the
Research Director, Dr. Gary Luker, MD, and a network of excellent investigators in breast
oncology and chemical, biomedical and electrical engineering. My multidisciplinary expertise and
experience allow me to effectively bridge the gap that may exist between scientists from disparate
disciplines of biology and engineering. This award will enable me to continue interdisciplinary
molecular imaging research focused on understanding and overcoming tumor heterogeneity to
advance precision medicine in breast cancer.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10240680
- **Project number:** 5R50CA221807-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Kathryn Luker
- **Activity code:** R50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $196,387
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-20 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10240680

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10240680, Specialist in Multi-Scale Molecular Imaging of Tumor Environments (5R50CA221807-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10240680. Licensed CC0.

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