J. Manuel Perez, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Joint Appointment in NanoScience Technology Center and Chemistry with a Secondary Joint in Biomedical Sciences Phone: 407-882-2843 E-mail: jmperez@mail.ucf.edu Lab Webpage View Full Curriculum Vita

Education

• Postdoctoral Fellowship — MGH-Harvard Medical School, Boston
• Ph.D. — Boston University, Boston MA
• M.S/B.S. Chemistry — University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, PR

Positions

• Instructor in Chemistry, Center for Molecular Imaging Research, MGH-Harvard Medical School, 2003-2005

Affiliations

• Department of Chemistry
• Biomolecular Science Center

Research

Research in my laboratory focuses on the development of nanoparticle technologies and their application in nanomedicine, molecular imaging, and molecular diagnostics. My primary interest is the design of novel and target-specific magnetic nanoparticle conjugates with potential imaging and therapeutics applications in cancer and atherosclerosis. These nanoparticles could target specific protein receptors on the surface of cancer cells or vulnerable plague and serve as molecular imaging agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Another area of current interest is the development of nanoparticle technologies and biosensors to detect molecular markers associated with disease in point-of-care diagnostics applications and for the detection of harmful pathogens and toxins. Specific areas of research interest includes:

1. Development of novel multifunctional nanoagents for diagnostics and treatment of cancer and atherosclerosis.
2. Development of activatable nanoparticles with applications to optical imaging.
3. Development of sensitive and high throughput pathogen and toxin detection using magnetic nanoparticles and NMR/MRI detection.
4. Use of combinatorial libraries to develop novel targeted nanoparticles.
5. Design of new diagnostic methods for telomerase activity and telomere length and other cancer related targets.

Nanoparticle Technologies This research focuses on the development of nanoparticle technologies and their application in nanomedicine, molecular imaging, and molecular diagnostics.

Current Funding

• NIH: Development of Magnetic Sensors for MRI Cancer Research
  PI: Perez,  8/2003 - 7/2008

Select Publications

Kaittanis, C.; Naser, S.A.; Perez, J.M. One-Step, Nanoparticle-Mediated Bacterial Detection with Magnetic Relaxation, NanoLetters 2007, 7 (2), 380-383

Rabin O.; Perez, JM.; Grimm J.; Wojtkiewicz, G.; Weissleder, R. An X-ray computed tomography imaging agent based on long-circulating bismuth sulphide nanoparticles, Nature Materials 2006, 5, 118-122.

Mc Carthy JR.; Perez, JM; Bruckner, C.; Weissleder, R. Polymeric Nanoparticle Preparation that Eradicates Tumors, Nanoletters 2005,5, 2552-2556

Perez, J.M.; Simeone, F.J.; Tsourkas, A.; Josephson, L.; Weissleder, R. Peroxidase substrate nanosensors for MR imaging, NanoLetters 2004, 4, 119-122

Grimm, J.; Perez, J.M.; Josephson, L.; Weissleder, R. Novel nanosensor for rapid analysis of telomerase activity, Cancer Res. 2004, 64, 639-643

Perez, J.M.; Simeone, F.J.; Saeki, Y.; Josephson, L.; Weissleder, R. Viral-induced self assembly of magnetic nanoparticles allows the detection of viral particles in biological media, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 10192-10193

Perez, J.M.; Josephson, L.; O'Loughin, T.; Hogemann, D.; Weissleder, R. Molecular relaxation switches capable of sensing molecular interactions, Nature Biotech. 2002, 20, 816-820

Perez, J.M.; O'Loughlin T.; Simeone, F.J.; Weissleder, R.; Josephson, L. DNA-based magnetic nanoparticle assembly acts as magnetic relaxation nanoswitch allowing screening of DNA cleaving agnets, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 2856-2857

Josephson, L.; Perez, J.M., Weissleder. Magnetic nanosensors for the detection of oligonucleotide sequences, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2001; 40(17), 3204-3206

Sucholeiki, I.; Perez, J.M.; Owens, P.D. New polyoxyalkyleneamine-grafted paramagnetic support for solid-phase synthesis and bioapplications, Tetrahedron Lett. 2001, 42, 3279-3282

Perez, J.M.; Wilhem E.J.; Sucholeiki, I. The use of power ultrasound coupled with magnetic separation for the solid phase synthesis of compound libraries, Biorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2000, 10, 171-174

Sucholeiki, I.; Perez, J.M. New high loading paramagnetic support for solid phase organic chemistry, Tetrahedron Lett. 1999, 40, 3531-3534

Park H.Y.; Perez, J.M; Laursen R.; Hara M.; Gilchrest B.A. Protein kinase C-beta activates tyrosinase by phosphorylating serine residues in its cytoplasmic domain, J. Biol. Chem. 1999, 274, 16470-16478.

Courses

• BCH 4054 Biochemistry II
• MCB 4932 / IDS 5937 Foundations of Bio-imaging Science

Awards, Honors, & Societies

• NCI Career Award Recipient (2003-2008)