WEHI New Medicines and Diagnostic Special Seminar hosted by Professor Ethan Goddard

Professor Paul Donnelly

Richard Robson Chair of Chemistry; School of Chemistry | Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute | University of Melbourne

Imaging and Therapy of Cancer with Molecularly Targeted Metal Complexes

L7W Seminar Room

Join via TEAMS

Including Q&A session

Please note this presentation will not be recorded

Prof Paul Donnelly is the Richard Robson Chair of Chemistry at the University of Melbourne. His research focuses on inorganic chemistry, biological chemistry and designing new molecules as potential therapeutics.

Radioactive metals that decay by positron emission can be used for diagnostic Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. Radionuclides that emit – or  particles can be used for radionuclide therapy. One approach for targeted diagnostic and therapeutic agents is to incorporate the metallic radionuclides into chelates that are attached to molecules that selectively bind to enzymes that are over-expressed in tumours. Two different zinc metallo-enzymes, Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) and carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX), are over-expressed in different cancers making them viable targets for targeted radionuclide therapy.

This presentation will describe our research into copper-64/67, zirconium-89 and actinium-225 complexes designed to selectively bind to PSMA and CAIX as well as other targets. The chemical synthesis of the new complexes will be presented followed by pre-clinical evaluation in animal models. Translation of this chemistry to first-in-human clinical trials will also be presented.

All welcome!