Esther Lim, M.D.

Medical Officer

Clinical Trials Branch

I am a nuclear medicine physician with special interest in tumor Imaging. During my residency at UCSD, I worked on the pre-clinical phase of a sentinel node agent development for breast cancer (David Vera, Lymphoseek, FDA approved 2013). As a junior faculty, I worked with Anthony Shields, MD, PHD, investigating non-FDG PET radiotracers, FLT and F18 FMAU. At the Molecular Imaging Laboratory Clinical Center, NIH, I independently designed and coordinated experiments for preclinical studies. The inventions during this time include radioligands targeting ?v?3 integrin, In-111-SCNbz-DOTA-IA and 99mTc(CO)3-tridentate-labeled high affinity peptidomimetic for tumor imaging. Additionally, in collaboration with NIAID, an optically active F18-labeled Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor, R and S(1-(6-amino-9H-purin-9-yl)-3-fluoropropan-2-yloxy) methylphosphonic acid { (3-fluoropropanyloxy)methylphonsphonic acid adenine} (FPMPA) for HIV detection was synthesized.

In collaboration with scientists at the university of Texas, Southwestern and at the University of Pennsylvania, I have previously designed and evaluated micells and dendrimer based PET/MRI dual modality, theranostic nano-conjugates. My current ongoing projects involve nano diagnostic approaches using Anti- Biofouling Iron Oxide based magnetic nanoparticles.

I have extensive hands-on experience in all aspects of radioligand development, from radiochemistry to in vitro and in vivo studies, including radiolabeling, tumor cell culture, cell binding essays, biodistribution studies, imaging in animal models, surgical dissection, metabolite/ in vivo stability, testing, and data analysis. I will be directing all aspects of the experiments outlined in this application.

As a PET/CT specialist and an academic physician, promoting clinical translation of scientific discovery has always been a major part of my career, actively participating in industry sponsored clinical trials. I am excited about the opportunities to facilitate drug discovery, development, and repositioning, and look forward to the new knowledge we will uncover for the benefit of patients.