Chun Li, PhD, receives SNMMI Mars Shot Research Fund Award

Reston, Virginia (March 19, 2026)-- The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is pleased to announce that Chun Li, PhD, professor of chemistry in the Department of Cancer Systems Imaging at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, has been selected as the recipient of a $100,000 Drs. Jane & Abass Alavi Mars Shot Research Award from the 2026 Mars Shot Fund. The Alavi Mars Shot Award is focused on advancing imaging research in infection and inflammation, and Li's grant was awarded based on his proposal, "Imaging vascular inflammation and response to therapy in atherosclerotic coronary artery disease."

Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) affects more than 18 million adults and causes over 370,000 deaths annually. CAD is the main cause of heart attacks, which occur when atherosclerotic plaques in the heart rupture.

Although there have been numerous advances in the detection and treatment of CAD, current clinically available imaging approaches have limitations, specifically in detecting unstable atherosclerotic plaques, said Li. We know that inflammatory cells play an important role in the development of CAD and, as such, are exploring PET radiotracers that can help detect and characterize inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques.

With his Mars Shot Award, Li and colleagues will investigate the PET radiotracer ⁶⁴ Cu-Db-CD11b to assess its ability to detect vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques in a murine model. The researchers will also use ⁶⁴ Cu-DbCD11b PET/CT to monitor response to anti-inflammatory therapies aimed at stabilizing vulnerable plaques in mice.

This project will have significant translation value, as noninvasive assessment of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques is expected to assist in identification of patients at risk and help determine when and how to treat them, stated Li.

Li has worked extensively on nanomedicine and development of new imaging probes, including probes for near infrared optical imaging, SPECT, and PET for the interrogation of systems response to molecularly targeted therapies. His long-term goal is to develop image-guided therapeutic strategies for effective anticancer therapies. Li received his PhD from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and completed his postdoctoral work at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

The SNMMI Mars Shot Research Fund, established in 2023, is a forward-looking glimpse into the future of nuclear medicine. It provides resources that translate visionary nuclear medicine imaging, radiopharmaceutical therapy, and data science research or projects into tools or treatments that will help improve the lives of patients.

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About the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is an international scientific and medical organization dedicated to advancing nuclear medicine, molecular imaging, and theranostics precision medicine that allows diagnosis and treatment to be tailored to individual patients in order to achieve the best possible outcomes. For more information, visit snmmi.org .