Dr Nicole Dmochowska

Dr Nicole Dmochowska is a Researcher Exchange and Development within Industry (REDI) Fellow (MTPConnect), working closely with Adelaide-based Ferronova to develop cancer imaging technologies. She was awarded a PhD in Medicine at the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute in 2020 and then joined the Future Industries Institute as a research associate. During her PhD, she was awarded a prestigious William T Southcott Nuclear Medicine Scholarship. She is a board member of the Australian Society of Molecular Imaging which works towards promoting the multidisciplinary field of molecular imaging, as well as fostering national and international collaborations.

Dr Dmochowska has extensive experience in all aspects of the preclinical development of imaging agents, from in vitro validation to in vivo experimental/model development and in vivo testing. During her PhD, she developed several PET imaging tracers against intestinal inflammation and fibrosis in a murine model of inflammatory bowel disease.

Since joining the University of South Australia’s Future Industries Institute, her research has focused on developing small molecule tumour targeting imaging contrast agents aimed at improving the imaging of primary tumour lesions. Dr Dmochowska is a key member of Ferronova’s research team that is building on first generation FerroTrace to develop FerroTrace-FAPi, designed to target the stroma of solid tumours, leading to improved delineation on MRI. She also led the development of a FerroTrace-PSMA formulation and the preclinical investigation of several immuno-MRI and PET agents aimed at improving the staging of head and neck cancers.

Board member of the Australian Society of Molecular Imaging

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine) University of Adelaide

• Bachelor of Health Scineces, First Class Honours, majoring in Pharmacology University of Adelaide

• Bachelor of Science, majoring in Chemistry and Pharmacology University of Adelaide