DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

Affiliations

Eileen M. Foell Professor of Cancer Research

Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence

Professor of Chemistry

Professor of Molecular Bioscience

Professor of Neurobiology

Professor of Radiology

Professor of Biomedical Engineering (by courtesy)

Director of the Center for Advanced Molecular Imaging

Associate Editor: Chemical Science, Royal Society of Chemistry

Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center

Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program (IBiS)

Chemistry of Life Processes Institute (CLP)

Feinberg School of Medicine

Research Statement

At Northwestern University, I lead a multidisciplinary research program at the intersection of chemistry, molecular imaging, and translational medicine. As the Eileen M. Foell Professor of Cancer Research and Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence, I hold appointments in Chemistry, Molecular Biosciences, Neurobiology, and Radiology, and am the faculty director of The Center for Advanced Molecular Imaging (CAMI).  The lab is divided into three sub-groups that focus on molecular imaging probes, electronic biosensors for proteins, and inhibitors of transcription factors. We are particularly interested in using coordination chemistry to create contrast agents that respond to enzymatic activity, redox status, gene expression, and other cellular signals. These imaging tools provide dynamic, noninvasive readouts of molecular events in vivo, enabling earlier detection, real-time monitoring, and more precise characterization of disease.

We maintain close collaborations with clinical and basic science investigators to translate new imaging strategies into meaningful diagnostic and therapeutic applications, especially in cancer and neuroscience. Beyond developing new probes, we are focused on understanding the mechanisms that govern probe distribution, uptake, and activation in biological environments. Our goal is to push the boundaries of molecular imaging to better understand disease at its earliest stages and to develop new tools for personalized medicine.

The Meade Lab research focuses on inorganic coordination chemistry for the study of molecular imaging of in vivo gene expression and intracellular messengers, transition metal enzyme inhibitors, and electronic biosensors. The design, synthesis and physical properties of transition metal and lanthanide coordination complexes are the foundation of our research.

Selected Publications

Nernekli, K., Mangarova, D.B., Daldrup-Link, H. E., Meade, T. J., “MRI detection of senescent cells in porcine knee joints with a β-galactosidase responsive Gd-chelate.”   Npj Nature Imaging, 2025, (3) 18, 1-11.

Kisel, A.; Luo, M.; Bailey, M. D.; Ghuman, H.; Rotz, M.; Campos, V.; Vieira, M.; Hitchens, K. T.;  Modo, M. M., Meade, T. J.; “Ultra-high resolution magnetic resonance microscopy of in situ gadolinium gold nanoparticles labeled cells in the rat brain.” Chem. Sci, 2025, 8, 5903-5911.

Luo, M., Bailey, M. D., Hyun, K., Lei, Y., Meade, T. J., “Alkaline Phosphatase-Targeted, Gadolinium-Labeled Nanoparticles for Enhanced Multimodal Imaging of Liver Cancer.” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2025, 17, 28000–28011.

Brotherton, A. R., Phillips-Sorich, B., DomNwachukwu, N., Bailey, M. D., Patel, A. S., Parigi, G., Luchinat, C., Meade, T. J., “Gadolinium Conjugated Lipoic-Acid Hydrogels for Magnetic Resonance Imaging.” ACS Applied Biomaterials, 2025, 8, 5903–5911.

Kaster M. A., Caldwell M. A., Roach C. M., Bailey, M. D., Meade, T. J. “1H Parashift Probes for Ratiometric Detection of Nitroreductase.” ACS Inorg. Chem., 2025, 64, 14785–14798.

Brotherton, A. R., DomNwachukwu, N., Bailey, M. D., Rivnay, J., Meade, T. J., “Disulfide Incorporated Pyridine and Pyridinium Push–Pull Dyes for Optical Sensing and Antifouling Electrodes.” Langmuir, 2025, 41, 8144–8151. 

Bond, C. E., Olson, K. D., Punar, M., Friedman, L. B., Tang, J. H., Luo, M., Bailey, M. D., Holmgren, R. A., Meade, T. J., Gli pathway-targeted Co(III) Schiff base complexes inhibit migration of basal cell carcinoma cells., RSC Advances, 2025, 15, 8572-8579.

Tang, J.-H., Luo, M., Tsao, W., Waters, E. A., Parigi, G., Luchinat, C., Meade, T. J., “MR Imaging Reveals Dynamic Aggregation of Multivalent Glycoconjugates in Aqueous Solution.” ACS Inorg. Chem., 2024, 63, 24662-24671.

Brotherton, A. R., Mohamed S. N., Meade, T. J., Synthesis and Relaxivity of Gadolinium-Based DOTAGA Conjugated 3-Phosphoglycerate.” Dalton Transactions, 2024, 53, 17777–17782.

Kaster, M. A., Caldwell, M. A., Meade, T. J., “Development of Ln(III) Derivatives as 19F Parashift Probes.” ACS Inorg Chem., 2024, 63, 21, 9877–9887.

Brotherton, A. R., Neupane, G. P., Ji, X., Sullivan, K., Bailey, M. D., Berns, E. J., Rivnay, J., Mrksich, M., Meade, T. J., “HaloTag-Modified, Ferrocene Labeled Self-Assembled Monolayers for Protein Sensing.” Langmuir, 2024, 40, 22856-22864.

Daldrup-Link, H.E., Suryadevara, V., Tanyildizi, Y.,  Nernekli, K., Tang, J-H., Meade, T. J., “Musculoskeletal imaging of senescence.” Skeletal Radiology, 2024, 53, 1879–1887.

Tang, J.-H.; Li, H.; Yuan, C.; Parigi, G.; Luchinat, C.; Meade, T. J., “Molecular Engineering of Self-Immolative Bioresponsive MR Probes.” J. Am. Chem. Soc, 2023, 145, 10045-10050.

Dukes, M.; Modo, M.; Meade, T.J., “Non-invasive Detection of Stem Cell Therapies Facilitated by Metal Ion-Based Contrast Agents.” CRC Press, 2022, 261-286.

Dukes, M.; Meade, T.J., “Modulation of Hedgehog Signaling for the Treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma and the Development of Preclinical Models.” Biomedicines, 2022, 10, 2376.

Brue, C.; Dukes, M.; Masotti, M.; Holmgren, R.; Meade, T.J., “Functional Disruption of Gli1-DNA Recognition via a Cobalt(III) Complex.” ChemMedChem, 2022, 17, e2022000, 1-7.

Dukes, M.; Bajema, E.; Whittemore, T.; Holmgren, R.; Meade, T.J., “Delivery of Targeted Co(III)-DNA Inhibitors of Gli Proteins to Disrupt Hedgehog Signaling.” Bioconjugate Chem., 2022, 33, 643–653.

Li, H., Lou, D., Yuan, C., Wang, X., Wang, J., Basilion, JB., Meade, T.J., “Magnetic Resonance Imaging  of PSMA-Positive Prostate Cancer by a Targeted & Activatable Gd(III) MR Contrast Agent.” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2021, 143, 41, 17097-17108.

Taghian, T., Esteves, MG.,Edwards, HG., Meade, T.J. “Real-Time Tracking of AAV Gene Therapy with Enzyme Activated MR Probes.” Molecular Therapy, 2021, 29, 124-134.

Adams, CJ., Meade, T.J., “Toward Imaging Pt Chemoresistance Using Gd(III)-Pt(II) Thernostic MR Contrast Agents.” ChemMedChem, 2021, 16, 1-10.

Selected Honors / Awards

• Investiture: The Charles McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence, NU (2021)
• World Molecular Imaging Society Gold Medal Award for Pioneering Imaging (2020)
• Gold Medal Award for Molecular Imaging: California Institute of Technology (2020)
• George Fisher Baker Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, Cornel University (2019)
• Fellow, National Academy of Inventors (2017)
• Stony Brook University Franklin Award Lecture (2017)
• Mahler Lecturer, University of Texas, Austin (2016)
• Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry (2016)
• Associate Editor, Chemical Science (2016)
• Elected Fellow, National Academy of Inventors (2016)
• Elected Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry (2016)
• The J. Stieglitz Award: University of Chicago and the American Chemical Society (2016)
• Elected Fellow, American Association of Advancement of Science (2015)
• Hill Lecturer, Duke University (2014)
• Catalyst Award, Northwestern University and the City of Evanston (2014)
• Fellow of the World Molecular Imaging Society (2012)
• Fellow of the American Chemical Society (2011)
• Society for Molecular Imaging Annual Exceptional Achievement Award
• Musselman Award for Visiting Scientist (2010)
• Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization (iBIO) iCON Innovator Award (2009)
• Miller Professor, University of California Berkeley (2009)
• Northwestern University Excellence in Teaching Award (2008)
• William Beaumont Award: Wayne County Medical Society (2007)
• Allen & Constance Ford Distinguished Award, CaseWestern ReserveUniversity (2006)
• Eileen Foell Chair in Cancer Research, Northwestern University, (2005)
• Elected President – Society of Molecular Imaging - Membership>1,000 Chair (2005)
• Committee - Imaging in 2020 IV, (2005)
• FMC Award - Princeton University, (2004)
• Elkin Distinguished Investigators Cancer Lecturer, Emory University (2003)
• Neuroscience Award Lecture, Society for Neuro-Oncology (November 2002)
• National Academy of Engineering Lecturer, Cleveland, Ohio, (2000)