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Mark D Pagel, Ph.D.

Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, Division of Diagnostic Imaging

About Dr. Pagel

Dr. Mark “Marty” Pagel directs the Contrast Agent Molecular Engineering Laboratory (CAMEL), which focuses on molecular imaging research at the pre-clinical and clinical levels to interrogate biomarkers of the tumor microenvironment. Research studies in CAMEL are very multidisciplinary, spanning chemistry, biochemistry, cell & molecular biology, cancer biology, immunology, biomedical engineering, medical physics, and radiology. Due to these multidisciplinary activities, CAMEL provides a great environment for collaborations and for training researchers who are interested in molecular imaging of cancer.

Primary Appointment

Dallas Fort Worth Living Legend Professorship, Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Professor, Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Deputy Department Chair, Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment

Professor, Department of Imaging Physics, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Graduate Faculty, Division of Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, Houston, TX

Adjunct Professor, Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX

Research Interests

Tumor Acidosis: Dr. Pagel has pioneered the development and application of acidoCEST MRI, which uses Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) to measure the extracellular pH (pHe) in a solid tumor. He has translated acidoCEST MRI to the radiology clinic. He has also developed PET/MRI co-agents and simultaneous PET/MRI methods that can measure tumor pHe. He is currently investigating MR Fingerprinting as another method for measuring tumor pHe. These tumor pHe measurements are used to improve cancer diagnoses, and to evaluate treatments that directly inhibit glycolysis; treatments that more generally reduce metabolism; treatments that are activated in acidic tumors; and pre-treatments that reduce acidosis and improve immunotherapy.

Tumor Hypoxia: The CAMEL group has optimized Oxygen Enhanced (OE) MSOT that measures oxygen saturation (%sO 2 and ΔsO 2 ) that are biomarkers of vascular hypoxia. We are performing a clinical MSOT study that detects hypoxic, metastatic lymph nodes. More recently, Dr. Pagel has been developing OE-EPR (Electron Paramagnetic Resonance) imaging that can measure oxygen pressure (pO 2 ) in the tumor microenvironment. The CAMEL group has combined OE MSOT with DCE MSOT, and is currently combining OE-EPR with DCE EPR, to provide a single scan session that can measure multiple biomarkers of the tumor vasculature. These hypoxia imaging studies are used to evaluate radiotherapy and radiosensitizers, and also assess pre-treatments that reduce hypoxia to improve tumor control with immunotherapy.

Tumor Vascular Perfusion: The CAMEL Group has invented new methods that analyze Dynamic Contrast Enhanced (DCE) MRI that can measure tumor vascular perfusion (RK rans and k ep ). More specifically, our group has developed the Linear Reference Region Model that avoids the need for an Arterial Input Function, relaxes requirements for fat temporal resolution, and improves precision. In addition, our group has developed DCE MSOT that can measure tumor vascular perfusion, and we are developing a similar DCE EPR method. Measurements of vascular perfusion are used to evaluate vascular disrupting agents and radiotherapies. Also, our DCE imaging methods are combined with our methods for imaging tumor hypoxia, and therefore apply to studies of radiotherapy and immunotherapy.

Enzyme Activity: Dr. Pagel pioneered the development of catalyCEST MRI that can detect enzyme activities within in vivo tumor models. More recently, CAMEL is developing MSOT contrast agents that can detect enzyme activities, which can also be used to improve tumor detection during surgery.

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

1993	University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA, PHD, Chemistry
1988	Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA, BA, Biology
1988	Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA, BA, Chemistry

Experience & Service

Academic Appointments

Professor, Department of Medical Imaging, Biomedical Engineering, and Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 2016 - 2017

Associate Professor, Department of Medical Imaging, Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 2008 - 2016

Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities

Program Director, Pathway to Systems Imaging, Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2017 - Present