Michael Evans, PhD
Professor
Radiology
School of Medicine

415-514-1292

Michael Evans, PhD, is a Professor in Residence in the UCSF Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging. He is a chemical biologist with an interest in biomarker discovery with proteomics, nuclear medicine, theranostics, and molecular imaging. Dr. Evans earned a BA in Chemistry from St.

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Mary’s College of Maryland and he obtained his PhD in Organic Chemistry from The Scripps Research Institute (CA) under the supervision of Professor Benjamin Cravatt. This was followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in Molecular Imaging from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York under the supervision of Professors Charles Sawyers and Jason Lewis. In 2013, Dr. Evans accepted a faculty position at UCSF.

Dr. Evans has published over 80 peer-reviewed articles, 40 meeting abstracts, and is a co-inventor on 13 patents pending or issued. Dr. Evans also is the principle investigator or co-PI on several human trials focused on new strategies for imaging and treating tumors with radiopharmaceuticals. He is a scientific co-founder and previously served on the scientific advisory board of ORIC Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He is a co-founder of Therapaint, Inc, Honeybear Biosciences, and Hap10, Inc. Dr. Evans is a member of the American Chemical Society, the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, and the World Molecular Imaging Society. He has been invited nationally and internationally to lecture about his research. Has been recognized with numerous honors, including a Young Investigator Award from the Prostate Cancer Foundation, a Pathway to Independence Award from the National Cancer Institute, a Research Scholar Award from the American Chemical Society, the 2023 Roger Tsien Award for excellence in chemical biology from the World Molecular Imaging Society, and he was a 2020 inductee to the Council of Distinguished Investigators in the Academy of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Research.

Expertise: Chemical Biology, Positron emission tomography, Targeted Radioligand Therapy, Organic Chemistry, Cancer Biology,

Education and Training:

  • Bachelor of Art: St. Mary’s College, St. Mary’s City, Maryland - Chemistry
  • Doctor of Philosophy: The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California - Organic Chemistry
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York - Molecular Imaging

Awards

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  • Roger Tsien Award, World Molecular Imaging Society, 2023
  • Translational Science Grant, V Foundation, 2020-2023
  • Challenge Award, Prostate Cancer Foundation, 2020-2021
  • Council of Distinguished Investigators, The Academy for Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Research, 2020
  • Dean's Apple Award for Teaching, UCSF School of Pharmacy, 2020
  • Pilot Award, The LAM Foundation, 2019-2020
  • Research Scholar Award, American Cancer Society, 2017-2021
  • Discovery Award, American Brain Tumor Association, 2017-2018
  • Brain Tumor SPORE Developmental Research Project, UCSF, 2016-2018
  • Precision Imaging of Cancer and Therapy Pilot Award, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2016-2017
  • Team Science Award, UCSF Academic Senate, 2016-2017
  • Idea Development Award, DOD Prostate Cancer Research Program, 2015-2017
  • Pilot Award, UCSF Academic Senate, 2014-2015
  • David H. Koch Young Investigator Award, Prostate Cancer Foundation, 2013-2016
  • Pathway to Independence Award, National Cancer Institute, 2012-2017
  • Research Grant, Imaging and Radiation Sciences Brigde Program, MSKCC, 2012-2014
  • Research Award, Brain Tumor Center of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 2011
  • Research Award, Imaging and Radiation Sciences Bridge Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 2011
  • R25 Fellowship, National Institutes of Health and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 2007-2010

Education & Training

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  • Postdoctoral Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 2013
  • PhD Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute 2007
  • BA Chemistry Saint Mary's College of Maryland 2001

Interests

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  • oncogenes
  • nuclear medicine
  • pancreatic cancer
  • proteomics
  • molecular imaging
  • androgen receptor
  • prostate cancer
  • high grade glioma
  • tuberous sclerosis complex
  • organic chemistry
  • PI3K
  • positron emission tomography
  • Cancer
  • signaling pathways
  • tumor suppressors
  • biomarkers
  • chemical biology
  • MYC

Websites

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Grants and Projects

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Publications (96)

Top publication keywords:
TransferrinRadioisotopesGalliumZirconiumFluorine RadioisotopesGallium RadioisotopesReceptors, GlucocorticoidMolecular ImagingMechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1Positron-Emission TomographyCitratesB7-H1 AntigenRadiopharmaceuticalsProstatic Neoplasms, Castration-ResistantPositron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography

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