Research Interests:

Our program on the development of biological probes is focused on the design, synthesis and validation of positron-emitting and fluorescent labeled probes for enzyme localization and function, presynaptic neurotransmission, postsynaptic receptor interactions, b-amyloid deposition and gene expression. Our investigations have three general aims:

• Development of biological probes (i.e. radiolabeled fluorinated amino acids, presynaptic dopamine transporter ligand probes) to establish the structural requirements for probing central dopaminergic mechanisms with positron emission tomography (PET).
• The design of PET reporter probes in the development of in-vivo non-invasive procedures to quantitate gene expression in animals and humans. Probes for glucose transporters (GLUT-1), dopamine-D2 receptors, aromatic amino acid decarboxylase and thymidine kinase are currently being investigated.
• The development of specific in-vivo probes for b-amyloid plaques for early, non-invasive detection of Alzheimer's disease.