WiSE Gabilan Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Cristina Zavaleta develops new nano-based molecular imaging strategies. The advantage of utilizing nanoparticles as imaging contrast agents is their ability to reveal functional molecular information which can help diagnose diseases (cancer, for example), make treatment decisions, and advance drug discovery. One goal of her work is precision medicine, driven by the understanding that disease manifests differently in each person. Her work provides the tools to understand a cancer’s molecular expression on individual cells that can result in delivering more effective targeted therapies and other tailored treatments.
Dr. Zavaleta’s USC career includes a long history of mentorship and university service. One of her many contributions to USC is her current service on the Racial Parity Committee in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. The group holds town halls among faculty and staff to better understand access issues and how to improve outreach and service to underserved communities.
Learn more about Dr. Zavaleta’s wide ranging work by visiting https://www.zavaleta-lab.com