Sangeeta Ray, associate professor in the Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, is leading research in radiopharmaceutical therapy, a field at the intersection of chemistry, imaging and oncology. Her work focuses on designing drug molecules bound to radioisotopes that seek out and destroy cancer cells while minimizing harm to surrounding tissues.

Ray’s research centers on prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a protein highly overexpressed in prostate cancer and, as her team has shown, in renal cell carcinoma as well. This dual targeting opens new opportunities to expand treatment options for cancers that share molecular similarities. “Our goal is to develop smarter therapies that maintain precision while reducing toxicity,” Ray says. “It’s exciting to see patients respond so well to treatments that are both effective and gentler.”

Developing these therapies is not without challenges. Radiopharmaceuticals require exacting chemistry and deep biological understanding, and few researchers work comfortably in both spaces. Ray bridges this gap through her multidisciplinary background. Originally trained as a chemist, she transitioned into targeted cancer imaging and therapy, connecting molecular design with clinical application.

Early Johns Hopkins support played a pivotal role in shaping her path. Seed funding from the Patrick C. Walsh Prostate Cancer Research Fund and the department’s Bright Star Award  enabled her to establish a foundation for her  research. With this early momentum, she secured competitive grants from the National Institutes of Health and Department of Defense, expanding the project’s scope and impact.

Her shift into cancer imaging and therapy was catalyzed by a prestigious NIH K25 career development grant — an award specifically designed to support scientists bridging disciplines. “That award allowed me to bring together my chemistry background with the biology of cancer,” Ray said. Being one of only a few recipients in the nation at the time, she used the opportunity to explore how molecularly targeted radiopharmaceuticals could provide both diagnostic insight and therapeutic power.

Today, her laboratory continues to refine PSMA-targeted theranostics while investigating additional molecular targets that could extend this approach to other cancers. Collaborating with experts across radiology, oncology and molecular biology, Ray’s work embodies the interdisciplinary spirit of Johns Hopkins — driving innovation that translates from the bench to the bedside.

Her journey is a testament to how collaboration, institutional investment and scientific curiosity can advance the next generation of cancer care. As Ray and her team look ahead, their focus remains clear: developing radiopharmaceuticals that precisely target cancer while preserving patients’ quality of life.