David Piwnica-Worms Laboratory
David Piwnica-Worms, M.D., Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Cancer Systems Imaging
Chair and Professor
Area of Research
- Imaging Research
The tools of molecular imaging can provide spatially- and temporally-resolved information on biological structures and functions. Because investigators have increasingly recognized the importance of context in the study of gene expression and protein function as well as understanding regulatory mechanisms within cellular micro-environments, many have turned to non-invasive imaging technologies to advance research on human health and disease. These non-invasive imaging strategies can interrogate protein processing, protein-protein interactions, gene expression and flux through metabolic pathways in real-time in cells and live animals, and are increasingly useful in understanding signal transduction and pathobiology of human diseases, including cancer, to facilitate development of effective therapies. His group has used these approaches to investigate mechanisms of regulation of IkB/NFkB signaling, b-catenin processing, multi-drug resistance, EGFR signaling, and innate immunity. They have developed high fidelity molecular-specific pharmacodynamic reporters of several anti-cancer drugs useful in whole animal models. They have created a widely-used luciferase protein fragment complementation platform, dual-color protein interaction switches, and fusion reporters for bioluminescent analysis of protein processing in living animals, each with broad applications in biotechnology and biomedicine.
By making these constructs and methods freely available, the team helped catalyze the application of genetically-encoded molecular imaging approaches to diverse medical and basic biological questions in a variety of fields. On other fronts, Piwnica-Worm’s group has moved several of their scientific discoveries from bench to bedside, facilitating the goals of precision medicine by translating novel PET tracers and cell-penetrating activatable peptides toward clinical imaging applications.
Division and Departments
Current Grant Funding
Current
Investigator, Novel PET Agent for Myocardial Perfusion Imaging, NIH HL111163, U.S. National Institutes of Health, PI - V. Sharma, 2012-6/30/2016
Principal Investigator, WU-MDACC Molecular Imaging Center, CA94056, NIH/NCI, 1/1/2012-12/31/2017
Mentor, Imaging Metastasis in Bone Windows In Vivo, Odyssey Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, PI - Tracy Liu, Ph.D., 2013-2016
Principal Investigator, Membrane Permeant Peptides for Imaging Cell Function, EY019587, U.S. National Institutes of Health, NEI, 9/30/2013-9/29/2017
Principal Investigator, STARS Award, STARS, Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), 2014-12/31/2015
Co-Principal Investigator, Employing Mouse Models to Translate Early Detection of Pancreas Cancer, 1-R01-CA195733, NIH/NCI, PI - Kalluri, Co-PI, 7/1/2015-6/30/2018
Mentor, Interdisciplinary Translational Pre/Postdoctoral Program in Cancer Nanotechnology, T32CA196561, NIH/NCI, PI - Sokolov, 9/1/2015-8/30/2020
Principal Investigator, Addressing Critical Unmet Needs in Triple Negative Breast Cancer with Immuno-PET, MDACC Knowledge Gaps, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Co-Investigator, Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas, RP160150, Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), PI - Colen, 3/1/2016-2/28/2019
Collaborator, Mechanisms of carcinogenesis and therapeutic vulnerabilities associated with RBM10 loss in KRAS mutant NSCLC, W81XWH-15-LCRP-CDA, Department of Defense (DOD), PI - Skoulidis
Completed Grant Funding
Principal Investigator, Monitoring Membrane Potential Noninvasively, Whitaker Health Science Fund, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1989-1990
Principal Investigator, Uptake Mechanisms of Tc-99m Based Myocardial, Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)
Principal Investigator, Uptake Mechanisms of Tc-99m-SESTAMIBI, Dupont, Dupont Pharma Radiopharmaceuticals
Principal Investigator, Uptake Mechanisms of Tc Perfusion Agents, HL42966, NIH/NHLBI, 1990-1995
Principal Investigator, Cellular Uptake Mechanisms of Mn-DPDP, Salutar/Nycomed Inc., 1991-1993
Principal Investigator, Imaging Membrane Potentials with Tc-Isonitrile Complexes, 92-0124, American Heart Association Established Investigatorship, 1992-1997
Mentor, Imaging Expression of MDR with Tc-99m Labeled Antisense Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Society of Nuclear Medicine, PI - Dan Williamson, M.D., Ph.D., 1993-1994
Principal Investigator, Targeting Multidrug Resistance with Tc-Isonitriles, Milton Fund, Harvard Medical School
Principal Investigator, Multidrug Resistance Modulation, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, 1993-1995
Mentor, Functional Characterization of Multidrug Resistance P-glycoprotein with Tc-99m-Sestamibi, Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), PI - Vallabhaneni Rao, Ph.D., 1994-1995
Principal Investigator, In Vitro Studies for Functional Imaging of Multidrug Resistance, Washington University-Mallinckrodt Medical Inc., 1994-1997
Principal Investigator, Multidrug Resistance Modulation with GG918, Glaxo-Wellcome, Inc, 1994-1997
Principal Investigator, Targeting Multidrug Resistance with Tc-Isonitrile Complexes, ER61885, U.S. Department of Energy, Molecular Nuclear Medicine Program, 1994-1997
Principal Investigator, In Vivo Studies for Functional Imaging of Multidrug Resistance, Mallinckrodt Medical, Inc, 1995-1998
Mentor, Characterization of Tc-Q Complexes for Functional Imaging of Multidrug Resistance, Society of Nuclear Medicine, PI - Gary D. Luker, M.D., 1996-1997
Mentor, Characterization of Tc-99m-N2O2P2 Complexes for Functional Imaging of Multidrug Resistance in Cancer, Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), PI - Gary D. Luker, M.D., Research Fellow, 1996-1998
Principal Investigator, Modulation of P-glycoprotein with Metallopharmaceuticals, CA65735, NIH/NCI, 1996-1999
Principal Investigator, MDR Modulation with LY335979, Eli Lilly and Co., Inc., 1997-1999
Mentor, Summer Research Fellowship and Biology Honors Thesis, Characterization of Tc-99m-Tetrofosmin as a Transport Substrate of MDR1 P-glycoprotein, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, PI - Wendy S. Chen, 1997-1999
Principal Investigator, Targeting Multidrug Resistance with Metal Complexes, ER61885, U.S. Department of Energy, Molecular Nuclear Medicine Program, 1997-2000
Mentor, MDR1 P-glycoprotein and Sterol Trafficking, KO8 NHLBI, Mentored Physician-Scientist Award, U.S. National Institutes of Health, PI - Gary Luker, M.D., 1997-2002
Co-Principal Investigator, Detection of P-glycoprotein-Mediated Multidrug Resistance and Prediction of Response to Chemotherapy in Advanced Breast Cancer, Washington University Siteman Cancer Center, PI - Paula M. Fracasso, M.D., Ph.D., 1999-2000
Investigator, Targeting Chloroquine Resistance with Fe(III) Complexes, AI45640, NIH/NIAID, PI - Vijay Sharma, 1999-2000
Principal Investigator, Membrane Permeant Peptides for Imaging Cell Function, CA82841, NIH/NCI, 1999-2004
Investigator, Research Resource in Radionuclide Research, PPG RR83059, NIH/NCI, PI - Michael J. Welch, 1999-2004
Principal Investigator, Imaging Multidrug Resistance and Modulation in Breast Cancer, CA83059, NIH/NCI, 1999-2006
Mentor, Summer Research Fellowship, Role of MRP4 and MRP5 in Efflux Transport of HSV-1 Thymidine Kinase Substrates, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, PI - Helen Blake, 2000-2001
Principal Investigator, WU Molecular Imaging Center Planning Grant, CA86251, NIH/NCI, 2000-2002
Principal Investigator, Imaging Function and Regulation of Multidrug Resistance, ER61885, U.S. Department of Energy, Molecular Nuclear Medicine Program, 2000-2005
Investigator, Targeting Chloroquine Resistance with Fe(III) Complexes, AI45640, NIH/NIAID, PI - Vijay Sharma, 2001-2006
Principal Investigator, WU Molecular Imaging Center, CA94056, NIH/NCI, 2002-2007
Co-Principal Investigator, 14-3-3 and Breast Cancer, Washington University Siteman Cancer Center, PI - Helen Piwnica-Worms, Ph.D., 2004
Principal Investigator, Society for Molecular Imaging 3rd Annual Meeting, R13 CA112680, NIH/NCI, 2004
Mentor, Graduate Pre-Doctoral Award, “Mechanisms of Regulation of the Wnt/-Catenin Signaling Pathway in Real-Time Using Bioluminescence Imaging, T32 CA113275, WU Molecular Oncology Training Program, PI - Snehal Naik, 2004-2006
Principal Investigator, Membrane Permeant Peptides for Imaging Cell Function, CA82841, NIH/NCI, 2004-2009
Principal Investigator, Modulation of MDR with Tariquidar, QLT, Inc., 2004
Principal Investigator, Targeted Imaging and Therapy of Multidrug Resistance, ER61885, U.S. Department of Energy, Molecular Nuclear Medicine Program, 2005-2007
Investigator, Targeted Therapy of Glial NF Signaling Pathways, W81XWH-06-1-0222, Department of Defense (DOD), PI - David Gutmann, 2006-2010
Mentor, Pilot Project Grant, Targeting Mutant p53-Mediated Transactivation of the MDR1 Gene, American Cancer Society and Washington University Siteman Cancer Center, PI -Andea Pichler, Ph.D., 2007-2008
Principal Investigator, Elucidating Mechanisms of Farnesyltransferase Inhibitor Action and Resistance in Breast Cancer by Bioluminescence Imaging, BC060037, U.S. Department of Defense, Synergistic Idea Award, 2007-2010
Investigator, Technetium-99m-SPECT Agents for Imaging B-Amyloid in Alzheimer's Disease, AG030498, U.S. National Institutes of Health, NIA, PI - Vijay Sharma, 2007-2010
Principal Investigator, WU Molecular Imaging Center, CA94056, NIH/NCI, 2007-2012
Investigator, Enabling Applied Genomic Technologies in Pediatrics, MC-LI-2006-01, Children's Discovery Institute, PI - Sheila Stewart, Ph.D., 2008-2009
Mentor, Graduate Pre-Doctoral Award, Regulation of the Wnt/beta-catenin Pathway by VEGFR-1, T32 CA113275, WU Molecular Oncology Training Program, PI - Mei-Hsiu (Danzo) Pan, 2008-2009
Mentor, Caspase Activated Probes For In Vivo Optical Imaging of Retinal Neurodegeneration, F32 EY020051, Ruth L. Kirchstein National Research Service Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award, NIH, PI - James Johnson, Ph.D., 2009-2012
Mentor, Discovery of Synthetic Sick Genes in B-catenin Addicted Colorectal Cancer, PF-09-266-01-CSM, American Cancer Society Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award, PI - Robin Dothager, Ph.D., 2009-2012
Principal Investigator, Membrane Permeant Peptides for Imaging Cell Function, EY019587, U.S. National Institutes of Health, NEI, 2009-2013
Mentor, Bioluminescence System to Investigate Inflammation, T90 DA022871, Imaging Sciences Pathway Graduate Student Training, PI - Reece Goiffon, 2010-2011
Mentor, Generation and Analysis of a p21 Luciferase Knock-in Reporter Mouse, T90 DA022871, Imaging Sciences Pathway Graduate Student Training, PI - Kelsey Tinkum, 2010-2011
Mentor, High Throughput RNA Interference and Pharmaceutical Screens of GABA Metabolism in Prostate Cancer Hypoxia, #RR1031, Radiology, RSNA Research Resident Grant, PI - Joe Ippolito, M.D., Ph.D., 2010-2011
Mentor, Graduate Pre-Doctoral Award, Analysis of the NF-kappa B Pathway using Bioluminescence Imaging, T32 CA113275, WU Molecular Oncology Training Program, PI - Brandon Kocher, 2010-2012, $44,000
Principal Investigator, Bioluminescence Imaging of Mechanisms of Bisphosphonates as Anti-tumor Agents, BC096369, U.S. Department of Defense, Idea Expansion Award,
2010-2013
Investigator, Enabling Applied Genomic Technologies in Pediatrics, CDI-LI-2010-94, Children's Discovery Institute, PI - Sheila Stewart, Ph.D., 2010-2013
Co-Mentor, Targeting the Pre-Metastatic Niche, 5K12HD001459, National Institutes of Health, Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH)
Award, PI - Julie Schwarz, M.D., Ph.D., 2010-2013
Mentor, Bioluminescence Imaging of Atherosclerosis-Associated Reactive Oxygen Species, F30 HL107009, NIH Pre-Doctoral Fellowship, NHLBI, PI - Reece Goiffon, 2011-2014
Co-Mentor, From Breast to Bone: Tracking Gene Expression Changes Responsible for Breast Cancer Metastasis in a Humanized Mouse Model with Molecular Imaging, BC103624, DOD (Army) Breast Cancer Research Program Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, PI - Emily Powell, Ph.D., 2011-2014
Co-Mentor, p21 (Waf1/Cip1) Regulatory Pathway as a Target for Chemo- and Radio-protection in Advanced Prostate Cancer, PC101951, DOD (ARMY) Prostate Cancer Research Program Pre-Doctoral Fellowship, PI - Kelsey Tinkum, 2011-2014
Principal Investigator, Development of a Novel Ga-68 PET Myocardial Perfusion Imaging Agent, Washington University, Bear Cub Fund, 2012-2013
Investigator, Targeting an RNA Surveillance Pathway in Pediatric Cancer, MC-II-2012-215, Children's Discovery Institute, PI - Zhongsheng You, Ph.D., 2012-2013
Mentor, Tumor-Stromal Interaction as a Potential Target of Radiation Therapy in Glioblastoma, Radiation Oncology, Holman Research Pathway, American Board of Radiology, PI - Mathew Bradbury, M.D., Ph.D., 2012-2013
Mentor, WU Physician-Scientist Training Program, Bioluminescence Imaging of Myeloperoxidase Activity, 3040-56869A, NIH Cardiovascular Training Grant, PI - Sara Martinez, M.D., Ph.D., 2012-2013
Principal Investigator, 21st Century Imaging Sciences: WU Graduate Student Training, EB014855, NIH/NIBIB, 2012-2014
Co-Mentor, Characterization of Novel Radiosensitizers Identified in a Bioluminescent Glioblastoma-Stromal Interaction Screen, #RR1306, Radiation Oncology, RSNA Research Resident Grant, PI - Mathew Bradbury, M.D., Ph.D., 2013-2014
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Mailing Address
1881 East Road, 3SCR4.3600, Unit 1907
Houston, Texas 77054-1901
Department Executive Assistant: Dana Hedge
713-745-8521