Megan Michie
Program: Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Current advisor: Samuel Achilefu, PhD
Undergraduate university: Colby College
Research summary
My research mentored by Drs. Samuel Achilefu and Mikhail Berezin centers on the synthesis and characterization of novel optical probes for cancer imaging. While individualized cancer therapeutic approaches hold great promise to improve quality of life, optimal treatment planning relies on a complete picture of disease state and recurrence risk including identifying microscopic regions of residual disease and understanding a tumor’s molecular traits. Motivated by the goal of non-invasively understanding the tumor microenvironment, my work focuses on the development of stromal targeted fluorescent contrast agents that emit light in the near-infrared (NIR) spectral window, providing access to deeper tissues than visible probes. We investigate these novel NIR molecular probes using both fluorescence intensity and lifetime imaging modalities in cellular and murine models of cancer featuring stromal elements that drive patient outcomes. This approach of optical molecular imaging seeks to enable non-invasive tumor detection and treatment monitoring by providing insight into dynamic changes in the tumor microenvironment.
Graduate publications
Michie MS, Xu B, Sudlow G, Springer LE, Pham CTN, Achilefu S. 2022 Side-chain modification of collagen-targeting peptide prevents dye aggregation for improved molecular imaging of arthritic joints. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem, 424():113624.