Joseph P. Kao, PhD
Professor of Pharmacology and Physiology
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Assaying Red Blood Cell Quality for Blood Supply Management
For more information about this technology, please contact the UM Ventures, Baltimore team.
Bio
Dr. Kao is an expert in the design, synthesis, and application of molecular probes for studying physiological function in biological systems. The molecular probes include fluorescent molecules for monitoring cellular physiology, and photosensitive “caged” molecules that enable the use of light to actively control physiology in vitro and in vivo. Molecular probes for use with magnetic imaging modalities include stable free radicals (so-called “spin probes”) that enable physiologic imaging in vivo through electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI), and isotopically substituted metabolites for metabolic imaging through hyperpolarized magnetic resonance imaging (hMRI). The optical probes have wide application in cell biology and neurophysiology research, whereas the magnetic imaging probes are useful in preclinical studies and potentially in the clinic.