NERISSA VIOLA, PhD
Position Title
Associate Professor
Program Leader, Molecular Imaging Program
Basic Science
Office Location
Karmanos Cancer Institute
Hudson-Webber Cancer Research Center - 516
4100 John R.
Detroit, MI 48201
Mailing Address
Karmanos Cancer Institute
4100 John R., HW05AO
Detroit, MI 48201
Office Phone
313-576-8309
Education Training
Education
(2009) PhD, Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
(1999) BS, Chemistry. University of The Philippines Diliman , Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Postgraduate Training
(2010 - 2014) Research Scholar, Cancer Imaging Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , New York, NY
(2009 - 2010) Postdoctoral Fellowship, Radiochemistry University of California, San Diego, CA
Professional Experience
Faculty Appointments
(2020 - Present) Associate Professor - Research Educator, Tenured, School of Medicine, Department of Oncology
(2022 - Present) Associate Professor, College of Engineering, (Biomedical Engineering) Secondary Appointment
(2014 - 2020) Assistant Professor - Research Educator, Tenure Track, School of Medicine, Department of Oncology
Hospital or Other Professional Appointments
(2020 - Present) Program Leader, Molecular Imaging, Department of Oncology, Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI
(2014 - Present) Associate Member of the Graduate Faculty, School of Medicine, Department of Oncology (Cancer Biology Program)(2019 - 2020)Program Co-Leader, Molecular Imaging, Department of Oncology, Wayne State University/Karmanos
Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI
Major Professional Societies
American Chemical Society
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
World Molecular Imaging Society (WMIS)
International Society of Radiopharmaceutical Sciences
Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI)
Honors and Awards
(2024) Anthony and Joyce Danielski Kales Endowment Faculty Award for Innovative Cancer Research
(2021) Dr. Michael J. Brennan Scientific Distinction Award, Karmanos Cancer Institute. The award recognizes demonstrated leadership in basic or clinical cancer research.
(2020) Research Excellence Award – Basic Sciences Researcher, Wayne State University School of Medicine. The award is given to faculty members who demonstrate excellence and achievement through research in the School of Medicine
(2019 - 2020) Academy of Scholars Outstanding Junior Faculty Award, Wayne State University Academy of Scholars. This award is given annually on the basis of outstanding academic accomplishments to 3 or 4 junior faculty members at the Assistant Professor or non-tenured Associate Professor level in the natural sciences, engineering or medicine; the social sciences or law; and in the humanities or fine and performing arts.
(2018) College Teaching Award, School of Medicine, Wayne State University. Presented to faculty based on the evaluation of instructional expertise as evaluated by students in the SOM undergraduate medical education program, residents in the graduate medical education programs and graduate students, as well as the annual department chairs' evaluation and other factors.
(2016) Alex Nakeff Young Investigator Award, Great Lakes International Imaging and Flow Cytometry Association Annual Meeting, Great Lakes International Imaging and Flow Cytometry Association, Troy, MI. The award recognizes research achievements of young investigators in the field of imaging and flow cytometry within the Great Lakes region. One award annually.
(2016) Fellow RSNA Clinical Trials Workshop, Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). This fellowship is granted to junior faculty members in radiology, radiation oncology, and nuclear medicine academic departments that are/who want to engage in clinical research. Twenty fellowships annually.
(2016) Meredith Keynote Inaugural Speaker, Syracuse University Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Symposium in the Chemical and Biological Sciences, Syracuse University, NY. The symposium focuses on encouraging the advancement of undergraduate researchers in the WISE and First generation McNair programs.
Courses taught
CB7210: Fundamentals of Cancer Biology
CB7240: Principles of Cancer Therapy
CB7300: Special Topics Preclinical Imaging Modalities (Course Director)
CB7300: Special Topics Breast Cancer
CB7410: Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy
CB7300: Special Topics Biomarkers in Cancer (Course Director)
Research
Research in my group focuses on the development of novel, quantitative imaging agents to interrogate tumor biology. These agents will be examined for their potential to monitor and visualize changes in molecular events during tumorigenesis and after treatment. Our long-term objective is to clinically translate these probes to support precision medicine initiatives. Our work has and continues to lead toward the development of PET radiotracers specific for oncogenic biomarkers and immune signatures (i.e. CD3, IFN-g, CD8, EGFR, HER2, HER3, tumor acidosis, PSMA, CA19.9).
Research Interests
- Theranostic drug development
- Predictive and quantitative molecular imaging biomarkers to assess tumor response to therapy
- Image-guided tumor detection including but not limited to breast, prostate and pancreatic cancers