Juri G. Gelovani

M.D., Ph.D., Tartu University, Estonia (1989)
Professor and Chairman, Cell Biology Section
Experimental Diagnostic Imaging
University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

Research (Gelovani Laboratory)
Dr. Gelovani is professor and chairman of cell biology in the Department of Diagnostic Imaging at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The Experimental Diagnostic Imaging department consists of various core laboratories including chemistry, radiochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, animal models, transgenic animal models, and molecular imaging. Dr. Gelovani specializes in cellular and molecular-genetic imaging; innovative diagnostics and imaging technologies for early detection of cancer; and monitoring anticancer genetic and cellular therapies. Research in his laboratory develops and translates novel non-invasive molecular imaging approaches into clinical practice to improve cancer detection and non-invasive molecular-genetic profiling, selection of novel anti-cancer therapies and monitoring their efficacy. Dr. Gelovani has developed premiere research programs aimed at the discovery of novel and more specific chemical, genetic, and cellular tracers for imaging different tumor-specific targets. A variety of PET, NMR and optical imaging tracers are being developed in his laboratory that allow for the translation of current molecular-biological assay systems into clinical imaging applications. Among the numerous honors and awards Dr. Gelovani has received throughout his career, he is the recipient of The George and Barbara Bush Endowment of Innovative Cancer Research (2004), the International Fellow Award from The Alexnder von Humboldt Foundation (2003), the Gold Medal for Significant Contributions to the Field of Molecular Imaging from the Society for Molecular Imaging (2002), and a Public Service Recognition award for his work as Head of the “Red Line” emergency medical team at the Hoboken (NJ) Triage Center for decontamination and treatment of the severely injured at the World Trade Center terrorist attack.

Education and experience
Dr. Gelovani received his doctorate of medicine (1986) and doctorate of neurosurgery (1989) from the University of Tartu, Estonia, where he also served as an assistant attending neurosurgeon. From 1991 to 1996 he worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Neurology at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY. For the next seven years Dr. Gelovani expanded his academic appointments to include laboratory research in experimental pharmacology and therapeutics, neurobiology and radiology. In 1998 he was promoted to associate attending neurobiologist in the departments of neurology and radiology at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. In 2003, he relocated to Houston, TX as professor in the Department of Experimental Diagnostic Imaging at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Currently, he serves as chairman of the department and director of the Center for Advanced Biomedical Imaging Research.