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Submenu for: PeopleThomas J. Meade Bioinorganic coordination chemistry, biological molecular imaging, transcription factor inhibitors, electronic biosensors
Research Interests
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.
Selected Publications
Biomimetic Dual-Multivalent Strategy Enabled In Vivo Tumor-Targeted Molecular MRI
Gao J., Xiao X., Luo, M., Liu M., Wang Y., Bindi J., Parigi G., Dai L., Tang, J.-H., Meade, TJ., Anal. Chem., Article ASAP, DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6c01551.
An Enzyme-Responsive Gd(III) MRI Probe for Visualizing β-Hexosaminidase A Activity
Luo, M., Tang, J.-H., Lei, Y., Parigi, G., Luchinat, C., Meade, T.J., ACS Sensors, 2026, 11, 4489–4499.
Human Transthyretin with a Tailored Gd(III) Complex as a High-Relaxivity MRI Contrast Agent
Bindi J., Kubrak A., Lei Y., Kaster M., Cerofolini L., Ravera E., Fragai M., Parigi G., Meade TJ.,
Inorg. Chem., 2026, 65, 17, 9680–9687.
Chemical Control of Aggregation-Induced Enhancement via β-Galactose and Gadolinium Chelates
Brotherton A. R., Tsao W., Luchinat C., Parigi G., Meade TJ. Inorg. Chem., 2026, 65, 8061–8069.
Bioresponsive MR Imaging Probes for Noninvasive Monitoring of AAV Gene Therapy
Tang J.-H., Taghian T., Jayakumar S., Parigi G., Luchinat C., Hall E., Gray-Edwards H. L., Meade TJ.,
Biocon. Chem., 2026, 37, 545–552.
Design and characterization of in situ cell-penetrating multi-modal gadolinium-gold nanoparticles for MR and CT imaging
Kisel, A., Luo, M., Bailey, M. D., Ghobrial, K., Lukashova, L., Lei, Y., Hitchens, K. T., Modo, M. M., and Meade, T. J.
Biomaterials, 2026, 329, 123947.
DomNwachukwu N. I., Bailey M. D., Luo M., Schiff J., Brotherton A., Phillips-Sorich B., Rivnay J., Meade TJ.,
Inorg Biochem., 2025, 276, 113195.
1H Parashift Probes for Ratiometric Detection of Nitroreductase
Kaster, M. A., Caldwell, M. A., Roach, C. M., Bailey, M. D., Meade, T. J.
ACS Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 64, 29, 14785–14798.
Gadolinium Conjugated Lipoic-Acid Hydrogels for Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Brotherton, A. R., Phillips-Sorich, B., DomNwachukwu, N., Bailey, M. D., Patel, A. S., Parigi, G., Luchinat, C., Meade, T. J.
ACS Applied Bio Materials, 2025, 8, 7, 5903–5911.
Kisel, A.; Luo, M.; Bailey, M. D.; Ghuman, H.; Rotz, M.; Campos, V.; Vieira, M.; Hitchens, K. T.; Modo, M. M.; Meade, T. J.
Chemical Science, 2025, 16, 12421.
View all publications by Thomas J. Meade listed in the National Library of Medicine (PubMed).