Paula Foster
Robarts Research Institute
London, Ontario, Canada
Dr. Paula Foster, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Medical Biophysics at Western University and leads the Cellular and Molecular Imaging Research Program at Robarts Research Institute. Her research is focused on the development and application of MRI cell tracking techniques and iron- and fluorine- based cell labeling technologies for in vivo imaging of cells in experimental animal models. A major focus of research in the Foster lab is tracking cancer cell dormancy and metastasis and inflammatory cells associated with tumors, in preclinical models of breast cancer, glioma, melanoma and prostate cancer. Cellular therapy is another exciting area where these cell tracking techniques may be important. In the Foster lab cellular MR imaging is being used to monitor the fate of T cell and dendritic cell vaccines for cancer immunotherapy and transplanted progenitor and mesenchymal stem cells to treat osteoarthritis and cancer. The Cellular and Molecular Imaging Research Program is based on a broad spectrum of scientific and medical disciplines and incorporates a fundamental capability and drive toward translational research. The projects are broadly multidisciplinary, always involving teams of scientists with expertise in engineering and physics, molecular and cell biology, immunology, physiology and chemistry.