We have shown that tumors can be imaged, both microscopically and macroscopically, with fluorescent derivatives of cobalamin. This may be especially useful to aid in the successful surgical treatment of breast cancer and the diagnosis of metastatic cancer. This work is supported by a special NIH grant through funds raised from the sale of the 1996 Breast Cancer Awareness Postage Stamp. Projects for Graduate Students. Graduate students have the ability to define their own project within the spectrum of cobalamin-targeted drug delivery and enzymology.
Students can design, synthesize, and test new bioconjugates of cancer drugs.
Since this project is a collaboration with research groups in the University of Utah Medical School, students can participate in every aspect of therapeutic drug development and biological evaluation. This unusual opportunity in an academic setting provides a broad graduate education, with solid training in biological chemistry. Vitamin B12 Dependent Enzymes. Our laboratory is also studying the mechanism of enzymes with radical pair intermediates, especially B12-dependent enzymes. We have developed new methods for probing the mechanism of biological and chemical reactions with DC magnetic fields.