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Martin Gilbert Pomper, M.D., Ph.D.

Martin Gilbert Pomper, M.D., Ph.D.

Headshot of Martin Gilbert Pomper
  • Director, Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
  • Professor of Radiology and Radiological Science
Male

Expertise

Diagnostic Radiology

Research Interests

Translational molecular imaging; small-molecule, peptide and antibody-based imaging and theranostic agents; PET, SPECT, optical and MR imaging; nanomedicine ...read more

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Insurance Information

Existing Patients

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Main Phone

443-997-7237

Outside of Maryland & Washington D.C.

410-464-6641
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International Patients

+1-410-502-7683
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Locations

The Johns Hopkins Hospital (Main Entrance)

Appointment Phone: 443-997-7237
1800 Orleans St.
Baltimore, MD 21287 map
Phone: 410-955-4100

Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center

Appointment Phone: 443-997-7237
601 N. Caroline St.
Baltimore, MD 21287 map
Phone: 410-955-4100

Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center

Appointment Phone: 443-997-7237
4940 Eastern Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21224 map
Phone: 443-997-1811

Johns Hopkins Medicine - White Marsh

Appointment Phone: 443-997-7237
4924 Campbell Boulevard
Suite 105
White Marsh, MD 21236 map
Phone: 443-442-2401 | Fax: 443-451-6986

Johns Hopkins Medical Imaging - Columbia

Appointment Phone: 443-997-7237
11055 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia Medical Center, Suite L9
Columbia, MD 21044 map
Phone: 443-574-5800 | Fax: 443-451-6986

Johns Hopkins Medicine - Green Spring Station

Appointment Phone: 443-997-7237
10803 Falls Road
Pavilion III, Suite 1100
Lutherville, MD 21093 map
Phone: 410-583-2700 | Fax: 443-451-6986

Johns Hopkins Medical Imaging - Bethesda

Appointment Phone: 443-997-7237
6420 Rockledge Drive
Suite 3100
Bethesda, MD 20817 map
Phone: 301-897-5656 | Fax: 443-451-6986

Background

Dr. Martin Pomper is a Professor in the Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Radiology and Radiological Science. Dr. Pomper is the Director of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. He is also a Professor of Oncology and Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Services. He is an internationally recognized leader in molecular imaging research and develops and implements new imaging agents that target cancer and brain disorders.

He is the inaugural recipient of the William R. Brody Professor of Radiology, a professorship designated for a radiologist physician scientist who excels in translational innovation in imaging.

Dr. Pomper is the Director of the Johns Hopkins Small Animal Imaging Resource and Associate Director of the In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Center, both funded by the National Cancer Institute to support molecular imaging research. He also co-directs the Kimmel Cancer Center's Cancer Molecular and Functional Imaging Program and the Cancer Functional Imaging Core.

Dr. Pomper received his undergraduate, graduate (organic chemistry) and medical degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His postgraduate medical training was at Johns Hopkins and included internship (Osler Medical Service), residencies (diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine) and fellowship (neuroradiology). He is board certified in diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine and has been on the faculty at Johns Hopkins since 1996.

Dr. Pomper’s interests are in the development of new radiopharmaceuticals, optical probes and techniques for molecular imaging of cancer and central nervous system disease. One area of focus is on imaging prostate cancer and the development of imaging and therapeutic agents targeting the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). He has numerous patents related to medical imaging, many of which have been licensed, as well as several imaging agents in clinical trials. 

He is the immediate past President of the Society of Nuclear Medicines Molecular Imaging Center of Excellence and Editor-in-Chief of the journal Molecular Imaging.

Dr. Pomper was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2017. 

...read more

Titles

  • Director, Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
  • Director, Johns Hopkins Small Animal Imaging Resource
  • William R. Brody Professor of Radiology
  • Associate Director, Johns Hopkins In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Center
  • Co-Leader, Cancer Molecular and Functioning Imaging Program (CMFI), Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Henry N. Wagner, Jr. MD, Professor of Radiology and Radiological Science
  • Professor of Radiology and Radiological Science
  • Joint Appointment in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
  • Joint Appointment in Urology
  • Professor of Biomedical Engineering
  • Professor of Oncology
  • Professor of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences
  • Professor of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences

Departments / Divisions

Centers & Institutes

Education

Degrees

  • MD; University of Illinois College of Medicine (1990)

Residencies

  • Radiology; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (1995)

Board Certifications

  • American Board of Nuclear Medicine (Nuclear Medicine) (1995)
  • American Board of Radiology (Diagnostic Radiology) (1995)

Research & Publications

Research Summary

Dr. Pomper’s research projects in central nervous system imaging include using positron emission tomography (PET) and advanced magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) techniques to uncover brain metabolic correlates of AIDS dementia; using PET to study molecular (neurotransmitter) and cellular abnormalities in patients with AIDS dementia; and the development of new radiopharmaceuticals for imaging nicotinic and glutamatergic neurotransmission as well as for imaging inflammation.

In oncology, he focuses on advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, such as diffusion tensor and amide proton transfer imaging to study brain tumors. In addition, radiopharmaceutical and optical imaging agents are being developed to study prostate cancer, metastatic potential, infection, inflammation and to study the pharmacokinetics of chemotherapeutic agents in vivo. Molecular-genetic imaging of cancer is another priority.

His research group consists of chemists, physicists, molecular biologists and clinicians working together toward clinical molecular imaging.

Lab

The Johns Hopkins Small Animal Imaging Resource Program (SAIRP) works to generate the confidence necessary to move new cancer therapies to patients. Its ultimate goal is to move small animal imaging science forward to the point where the incorporation of such imaging techniques becomes second nature in the daily practice of cancer researchers.

Lab Website: Laboratory of Martin G. Pomper
Core Facility:

Clinical Trial Keywords

AIDS; Dementia; MS; HIV; PSMA

Selected Publications

View all on PubMed

Banerjee, S.R., Pullambhatla, M., Byun, Y., Nimmagadda, S., Foss, C.A., Green, G., Fox, J.J., Lupold, S.E., Mease, R.C., Pomper, M.G. “Sequential SPECT and optical imaging of experimental models of prostate cancer with a dual modality inhibitor of the prostate-specific membrane antigen.” Angew. Chem. Int. Edit. 2011, in press.

Bhang, H.-E., Gabrielson, K.L., Laterra, J., Fisher, P.B., Pomper, M.G. “Tumor-specific imaging through progression elevated gene-3 promoter-driven gene expression.” Nat. Med. 17:123-129, 2011.

Banerjee, S.R., Pullambhatla, M., Byun, Y., Nimmagadda, S., Green, G., Fox, J.J., Horti, A., Mease ,R.C., Pomper, M.G. (68) “Ga-labeled inhibitors of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) for imaging prostate cancer.” J. Med. Chem. 2010 Jun 22.

Nimmagadda, S., Pullambhatla, M., Stone, K., Green, G., Bhujwalla, Z.M., Pomper, M.G. “Molecular imaging of CXCR4 receptor expression in human cancer xenografts with [64Cu]AMD3100 positron emission tomography.” Cancer Res. 70(10):3935-44, 2010.

Wang, H., Byun, Y., Barinka, C., Pullambhatla, M., Bhang, H.-E., Fox, J.J., Lubkowski, J., Mease, R.C., Pomper, M.G. “Bioisosterism of urea-based GCPII inhibitors: synthesis and structure-activity relationships.” Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 20(1):392-7, 2010.

Patents

Labeled inhibitors of prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), biological evaluation, and use as imaging agents
Patent # US9044468 B2 | 06/02/2015

The prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is increasingly recognized as a viable target for imaging and therapy of cancer. Various 99mTc/Re-labeled compounds were prepared by attaching known Tc/Re chelating agents to an amino-functionalized PSMA inhibitor with or without a variable length linker moiety. Ex vivo biodistribution and in vivo imaging demonstrated the degree of specific binding to engineered PSMA+ PC3 PIP tumors.

PSMA-binding agents and uses thereof
Patent # US8778305 B2 | 07/15/2014

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) binding compounds having radioisotope substituents are described, as well as chemical precursors thereof. Compounds include pyridine containing compounds, compounds having phenylhydrazine structures, and acylated lysine compounds. The compounds allow ready incorporation of radionuclides for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) for imaging, for example, prostate cancer cells and angiogenesis.

TSPO-targeting compounds and uses thereof
Patent # US8778304 B2 | 07/15/2014

Translocator protein (TSPO) targeting compounds are described. Methods of making the compounds, and uses of the compounds for imaging are also described.

Imaging infection with compounds that bind to thymidine kinase
Patent # US8691186 B2 | 04/08/2014

The instant invention provides a method for diagnosing an infection in a subject by administering to the subject a compound suitable for imaging which binds to a thymidine kinase present in the infecting organism, and obtaining an image of the subject to determine the presence and location of the compound, wherein a localization of the compound is indicative that the subject has an infection.

Imaging agents and methods of imaging NAALADase or PSMA
Patent # US8227634 B2 | 07/24/2012

The present invention relates to compounds particularly asymmetric urea compounds which are labeled with one or more radioisotopes and which are suitable for imaging or therapeutic treatment of tissues, organs, or tumors which express NAALADase and/or PSMA. In another embodiment, the invention relates to methods of imaging tissues, organs, or tumors using radiolabeled compounds of the invention, particularly tissues, organs, or tumors which express NAALADase and/or PSMA to which the compounds of the invention have an affinity.

Contact for Research Inquiries

Cancer Research Building 2
1550 Orleans Street
Baltimore, MD 21231 map
Phone: 410-955-2789
Fax: 443-817-0990

Activities & Honors

Honors

  • William R. Brody Professor of Radiology, 2011
  • Member, National Academy of Medicine, 2017

Memberships

  • Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center

Professional Activities

  • , Neuropsychiatric Lupus, 2011
  • Editor-in-chief, Molecular Imaging
  • Past president of the Society, Nuclear Medicine's Molecular Imaging Center of Excellence

Videos & Media

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