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Advancing our understanding of the brain through the development and application of molecular imaging agents

About Us

The Martinos Center Chemical Neuroscience program operates using an academic cooperative research model comprising faculty who share the philosophy that diseases of the human brain are uniquely human. Our collective mission is to advance the study of the living human brain through the development and application of new molecular imaging technologies. The cooperative faculty and their associated labs bring unique expertise to translation of technology from basic chemistry through human imaging and subsequent applications to understand human brain function during health and disease. Each lab has its own focus areas and we work together to augment one another’s capabilities. By leveraging resources collectively, our cooperative model provides efficiencies typically lacking in academic research. We hope that we can bring new insights into the human brain that ultimately help drive neurotherapeutic strategies.

Elements of Our Research

  • Radiochemistry Methodology

    Radiochemistry Methodology

  • Medicinal Chemistry

    Medicinal Chemistry

  • Biochemistry

    Biochemistry

  • Cell Biology

    Cell Biology

  • Pharmacology

    Pharmacology

  • Translational Imaging

    Translational Imaging

  • Human (Disease) Imaging

    Human (Disease) Imaging

  • Imaging Methodology

    Imaging Methodology

Faculty Team

Ph.D. Chemistry

Jacob Hooker

Ph.D. Chemistry
Ph.D. Neuroscience

Nicole Zürcher Wimmer

Ph.D. Neuroscience
Ph.D. Molecular imaging

Changning Wang

Ph.D. Molecular imaging
Ph.D. Medical Physics

Hsiao-Ying (Monica) Wey

Ph.D. Medical Physics
Ph.D. Organic Chemistry

Michael Placzek

Ph.D. Organic Chemistry

Press & News

Spotlight: Intern Orvin Pierre with the Harvard Gazette

An intern with the ChemNeuro group, Orvin Pierre, recently shared his journey towards medicine in the Harvard Gazette. In the interview with the Harvard junior, he reflects upon his innate desire to problem-solve, piecing together studies in science and humanism in preparation to be a physician.

Eikonizo Therapeutics Enter Agreement to Develop Treatments for Patients with Rare Diseases

Congratulations to Jacob Hooker, the academic founder of Eikonizo Therapeutics, for entering a collaboration agreement with the McQuade Center for Strategic Research and Development, to develop inhibitors of histone deacetylase-6 (HDAC6) focused on treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and other diseases. The group is excited to have the resources needed to get […]

Jacob Hooker Named Interim Editor-in-Chief for the ACS Chemical Neuroscience

Congratulations to Jacob Hooker for being named Interim Editor-in-Chief of the ACS Chemical Neuroscience! The ACS Chemical Neuroscience highlights biophysical, bioengineering, chemical, and quantitative biological approaches of aspects of chemical neurobiology or bio-neurochemistry.