Dr. Ann-Marie Chacko is an Assistant Professor in the Duke-NUS Programme in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, and Head of the Laboratory for Translational and Molecular Imaging (LTMI). Prof Chacko’s research focus at Duke-NUS is on the preclinical characterization of molecularly-targeted systems as diagnostics and/or therapeutics for translational applications. Using advanced state-of-the-art small animal imaging platforms, including the MILabs VECTor4CT and the recently acquired ThorLabs MultiPhoton Microscope, LTMI develops in vivo imaging approaches to noninvasively assess prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers for cancer, brain and immune function, and infectious diseases, especially with an Asian disease-centric focus.

LTMI also serves as a core facility for Duke-NUS researchers, and as a hub for emerging imaging research and technology development accessible to the broader research community across Singapore, including other academic institutes and industry groups.

Prof Chacko has more than 15 years of experience in nuclear medicine research focused on small molecules, peptides, proteins and nanomaterials. Her doctoral training was under Prof Hank Kung at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) in PET Reporter Probe Development for HSV1-TK. Her postdoctoral work was at UPenn with Prof Vladimir Muzykantov focused on imaging and drug delivery applications in pulmonary inflammation.