University of Southern California · Biomedical EngineeringCancer Imaging and Radiochemistry Unit
Kai Chen · Los Angeles, California
Research Focus
Dr. Kai Chen's lab at USC focuses on improving cancer imaging techniques, specifically through the development of a new PET imaging tracer called [18F]FMAU that measures cancer cell proliferation. The lab is leveraging innovative droplet radiochemistry technology to enhance the production of this tracer, making it faster, safer, and more widely accessible for clinical use. This research aims to provide better tools for assessing tumor responses to treatments, ultimately improving patient care and therapeutic outcomes.
cancer imagingPET imagingcell proliferationdroplet radiochemistrytreatment responsebiomarkersradioisotope synthesisclinical trials
Research Aims
4AIM 01Develop an optimized droplet radiosynthesis of [18F]FMAU at multi-dose scale.
AIM 02Customize a droplet radiosynthesizer for automated production of [18F]FMAU.
AIM 03Evaluate [18F]FMAU in preclinical studies for assessing treatment responses.
AIM 04Facilitate the wide availability of [18F]FMAU through user training and resource provision.
Skills the Lab Values
radiochemistryPET imagingsynthesis of radioisotopescell culturepreclinical studiesclinical trial designautomated synthesis techniquesdata collection and analysistraining and education programs
Output against the department
Publications94bottom 15% of dept.504th of 595
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations33ktop 8% of dept.46th of 595
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.