Angela Belcher

Angela Belcher is the James Mason Crafts Professor of Biological Engineering at MIT, affiliated with the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research. She holds academic rank as a Professor and specializes in nanotechnology, cancer nanomedicine, and energy materials. Her work leverages directed evolution to design biological systems for advanced materials and medical applications.

Belcher earned her Bachelor's degree from the College of Creative Studies at UC Santa Barbara (1991) and her PhD in Chemistry from UCSB (1997). She is a MacArthur Fellow, member of the National Academies, and recipient of the MIT-Lemelson Prize. Her research includes pioneering near-infrared (NIR) imaging systems for early cancer detection and nanotechnology-based therapies.

Her lab’s recent advancements include tumor-imaging probes, whole-animal NIR-II imaging, and optical systems enabling non-invasive cellular-level imaging. Collaborations with Ana Jaklenec and Robert Langer have produced dual phototherapy/chemotherapy microparticles for aggressive tumors. She co-founded CisionVision, advancing precision surgical tools with ARPA-H funding.

Key scientific awards include the 2024 National Medal of Science, recognition from Scientific American, and multiple fellowships. Her grants and lab initiatives focus on ovarian cancer diagnostics and therapies, supported by NIH and industry partnerships. The Belcher Lab also explores bio-inspired materials for energy storage and environmental applications.