Michael J. Evans

Michael J. Evans, PhD, is a Professor in Residence at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), in the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging. As a chemical biologist, his research focuses on biomarker discovery, nuclear medicine, and theranostics, particularly in oncology. He earned a BA in Chemistry from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and a PhD in Organic Chemistry from The Scripps Research Institute, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in Molecular Imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Dr. Evans leads a multidisciplinary lab at UCSF’s Genentech Hall, collaborating with radiochemists, engineers, and clinicians to develop imaging tools and therapies. His lab’s work includes preclinical and clinical studies of radioligands and targeted radiotherapies, such as CDCP1-targeted therapies and GRIP B-based immune monitoring. Notable achievements include the Roger Tsien Award (2023) and the Sam Gambhir Trailblazer Award (2024).

His research has produced over 80 peer-reviewed articles and 13 patents. Current projects involve imaging immune responses via granzyme B and exploiting iron dysregulation in tumors. Dr. Evans mentors students and postdocs, including those in the Chemistry and Chemical Biology programs at UCSF. His lab actively pursues translational research, with clinical trials evaluating radiotracers like 18F-TRX and 64Cu-GRIP B.

Dr. Evans has held leadership roles in professional societies, including the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, and serves on scientific advisory boards. His work bridges chemical biology and clinical nuclear medicine, aiming to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment.