Senior Scientist: Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario
Associate Professor: Department of Oncology, Western University, London, Ontario
Cross Appointments: Department of Chemistry, Department of Medical Imaging
Mailing Address
London Regional Cancer Program
Cancer Research Laboratory Program
Room A4-817A
790 Commissioners Rd. E.
London, Ontario
Canada N6A 4L6
Tel: 519-685-8600 Extension 53302
Email: lluyt@uwo.ca
Twitter: @LuytGroup
University Website:www.LuytGroup.com
Google Scholar: Luyt Google Scholar
Staff and Trainees
Graduate Students
Alexandra Hauser-Kawaguchi
Phone: 519-685-8600 extension 56853
Tyler Lalonde
Phone: 519-685-8600 extension 56853
Marina Lazarak
Phone: 519-685-8600 extension 56853
Jordan LeSarge
Phone: 519-685-8600 extension 53299
Emily Murrell
Phone: 519-685-8600 extension 53299
Will Turnbull
Phone: 519-685-8600 extension 53299
Undergraduate Students
Mariel Bulcan-Gnirss
Phone: 519-685-8600 extension 53299
Geran Tu
Phone: 519-685-8600 extension 53299
Research Associates
Mark Milne, PhD
Phone: 519-685-8600 extension 53299
Lihai Yu, PhD
Phone: 519-685-8600 extension 56853
Research Area
Bioorganic and medicinal chemistry, molecular imaging probe design, targeting cancer via GPCRs, radiochemistry.
Key Words
Molecular imaging, peptide receptors, G protein-coupled receptor, radiopharmaceuticals.
Summary of Current Work
Our research program involves the design, preparation, and evaluation of new compounds for the imaging and treatment of cancer. Many cancer tumours have an abundance of peptide receptors located on the surface of the tumour cells, mostly belonging to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily. By using the peptides that normally bind to these receptors as the starting point, we are designing variations of these compounds such that they will contain a radioactive component, yet still bind to the intended peptide receptor, and have appropriate in vivo behaviour. Thus, a radioactive peptide-like compound will be injected into a patient, will localize in the cancer tumour, and using an external camera an image of the tumour will be viewed. This approach also has potential use as a method of treatment for cancer.
As part of this program of creating new cancer imaging and therapeutic agents, new chemical methods and technologies for the preparation of these novel compounds are being developed. While radiopharmaceuticals are a primary focus of our research, our group is also pursuing probes for other molecular imaging modalities (such as optical imaging), and small molecule cancer therapeutics.Students involved in research in our group acquire synthetic organic chemistry, solid-phase organic chemistry, peptide/peptidomimetic design, bioconjugation, and radiolabelling skills. This research requires interaction with cancer and imaging scientists and group members are able to take projects from the basic chemistry stage through to animal model studies.
