Leonard Luyt, PhD

 

Leonard Luyt

 

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.

PubMed Publications

See my publications on PubMed