Ralph Weissleder

Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital
Simches Research Building, Room 5.210
185 Cambridge Street
Boston, MA 02114
Tel: 617-726-8226
Email: rweissleder@mgh.harvard.edu

Website:

csb.mgh.harvard.edu 
Lab Size: Over 20

Summary

The Weissleder lab is interested in the development of novel in vivo imaging methods for studying complex human diseases such as cancer and infectious diseases. The lab is also involved in translating these discoveries into the development of new diagnostic devices and drugs

Current research in the Weissleder lab is focused on developing better detection methods for specific cells (e.g. circulating cancer cells, immune cells), cell-derived microvesicles or, bacteria implicated in human disease. The lab utilizes a variety of techniques including whole body and intravital microscopic imaging, novel chemical approaches that perturb specific systems or biological pathways, and innovative sensing strategies that include nanotechnology and microfluidic methods. The lab uses these techniques to: a) obtain quantitative and systems-wide global measurements, b) perform dynamic serial measurements, and c) integrate multiple and various data sets into models. Increasingly, the lab has been focused on reconciling the gap that exists between imaging and traditional cell biology research by developing techniques that are powerful enough to image cellular processes in an in vivo setting. Thus far, the lab’s work on nanomaterials and on novel miniaturized nuclear magnetic resonance (μNMR) chips have led to advanced clinical trials. Single cell analysis systems have also been developed for rapid and accurate diagnosis and monitoring of drug therapy. Whilst the research is primarily basic in nature, much of it has a strong translational focus, with in vivo imaging playing a major role.