From the icy landscapes of Anchorage, Alaska, to the sunny shores of San Diego, California, PhD candidates Bryce Dunn and Marzieh (Nasrin) Hanafi showcased not only groundbreaking bioimaging research but also the ability to communicate complex science to audiences ranging from specialists to undergraduate students.
Their whirlwind journey began at the World Molecular Imaging Congress (WMIC) in Anchorage, a highly specialized meeting focused on cutting-edge imaging technologies. There, Hanafi earned two honors: a poster award after a 90-minute Q&A with expert judges and third place in the Young Investigator competition, which required condensing years of research into a five-minute talk for a general audience.
“It felt really good that we won two awards at the same time in a very prestigious conference,” Hanafi said.
Hanafi’s work centers on contrast agents for cancer and neural imaging. “We use an FDA-approved fluorescent dye called ICG and template it onto a DNA nanostructure,” she said. o. This approach improves tumor boundary delineation and circulation time, both of which are critical for surgical precision. The team’s new contrast agent significantly outperformed the standard dye, offering clearer imaging and improved performance, said Hanafi.
Dunn’s research focuses on shortwave infrared fluorescence imaging to visualize deep tissue and capture dynamic information and complements Hanafi’s efforts. “We want to develop molecular contrast agents to sense phenomena and have a functional imaging capability,” he said.
Together, their work aims to pair the right contrast agent with the right imaging system to transform functional and deep-tissue visualization of neural activity and cancer cells, respectively.
Both Hanafi and Dunn emphasized how the conferences tested their ability to adapt their message. WMIC offered technical depth: “I could walk away with practical takeaways and new ideas to bring back to my team,” Dunn said. The Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Annual Meeting in San Diego, by contrast, was broader and included undergraduates and industry professionals. “I made more different connections…with people at different levels in their academic careers,” he said.
Hanafi’s success at WMIC underscores this versatility, moving from a detailed technical defense to a concise, audience-friendly pitch.
From the focused imaging community at WMIC to the expansive bioengineering network at BMES, Dunn and Hanafi embraced the idea that impactful research depends not only on innovation but also on clear communication and connecting with people.
Dunn advised aspiring researchers, “Keep eyes and ears open. I didn’t know about this conference [WMIC] until a collaborator recommended it.”