Michelle Bradbury Laboratory

Michelle Bradbury, M.D., Ph.D., is a Professor of Radiology and Endowed Professor of Imaging Research at Weill Cornell Medicine specializing in Neuroradiology. She is Director of the Molecular Imaging Innovations Institute (MI3) and the Perioperative Imaging and Engineered Technologies Program for Cancer Treatment. She is also Head of Cross-Campus Research Collaborations and Innovations within the Cornell Institute for Engineering Innovations in Medicine. Dr. Bradbury earned a B.A. in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania. She then received an M.S. degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Maryland, followed by a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering (Radiological Sciences) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1997, she received her M.D. degree at George Washington University School of Medicine. Her laboratory is focused on co-developing and translating molecularly targeted, ultrasmall particle and cellular-engineered platforms to the clinic for image-guided surgical and theranostic applications. These efforts build on longstanding diagnostic and therapeutic research programs at the nano-bio interface in various tumor and other disease models.

Ph.D. in Materials Physics and Chemistry with a specialization in Nanotechnology. Expertise in molecular imaging and ultra-small Cornell Prime Dot (C'Dot) technologies developed through post-doctoral training at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and translational research work at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Led Formulation/Platform development at Elucida Oncology (a clinical-stage biotechnology company) and was a key contributor to the FDA IND clearance of ELU001 (anti-human folate receptor alpha Nanoparticle-Drug Conjugates, NDC). Advanced the C’Dot diagnostic and therapeutic technologies and co-invented 6 patents. Now serve as an Instructor of Materials Physics at Weill Cornell Medicine's Molecular Imaging Innovations Institute. Google Scholar Publication Link

Dr. DeLeon earned his Ph.D. in Immunology from the Duke University where he developed multicomponent peptide vaccines targeting human cytomegalovirus (CMV), specifically assessing the feasibility of a personalized CMV vaccine for treating glioblastoma (GBM). As part of his post-doctoral training at Duke in the Department of Neurosurgery/Division of Applied Theranostics, he studied the utility of employing platforms to study innate immune adaptor proteins (MAVS and STING) that could reprogram immunologically silent tumors into immunologically responsive malignancies. This was followed by a second fellowship in the Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry at North Carolina State University to elucidate molecular mechanisms underpinning the role of innate immune proteins involved in oncogenesis and viral infections. Dr. DeLeon joined Dr. Bradbury’s laboratory to advance next generation nanoparticles (C’ dots) and other engineered cellular engineered products to the clinic as part of combinatorial strategies to overcome suppression in solid tumor microenvironments.

Ms. Kashyap is the Laboratory Manager of MI3. She specifically manages all laboratory activities and orders, as well as assists the Program and Administrative Coordinator with other tasks needed to efficiently run programmatic initiative.

Dr. Pourbaghi is an interdisciplinary researcher specializing in nanomedicine, oncology, biomaterials, medical devices, and AI. His work focuses on innovative healthcare solutions, enhancing patient outcomes through advanced technologies.

Dr. Siddiqui obtained his MPhil (Nottingham University) and Ph.D. (University of Cincinnati) in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Prior to his doctoral work, he worked as a pharmacist with an interest in designing and developing “smart” insulin delivery systems. His doctoral work focused on the development of a 64Cu-based PET imaging probe for specific detection of bacteria in vivo by targeting a distinct metal transport pathway. Utilization of non-pathogenic strains of E. coli, genetically-encoded for overexpressing a metal transporter, were also used to facility delivery of 67Cu to solid tumors as part of a targeted radiotherapy paradigm. He joined Dr. Bradbury's lab with the goal of developing novel bioimaging and precision engineered cellular/microbial systems for interrogating and treating diseased microenvironments.

Ms. Wood is a Program and Administrative Coordinator who assists the MI3 Director with the advancement of laboratory and programmatic initiatives. She specifically assists with the planning and coordination of new programmatic initiatives for MI3, monitors implementation of program policies and practices, monitors program benchmarks, supports programmatic growth and development, coordinates program communications.