Dr. Dean Sherry Earns Accolades from International Organization

Dr. Dean Sherry, professor of chemistry and holder of the Cecil H. and Ida Green Distinguished Chair in Systems Biology at UT Dallas, will receive a Gold Medal Award for his research achievements from the World Molecular Imaging Society.

Sherry is a pioneer in the development and use of molecules that can be used as tracers in the body to study physiology and diagnose disease. Such molecules are used in conjunction with MRI to allow researchers and physicians to visualize tumors in the body or track biological processes, including metabolism.

The MRI agents Sherry developed and continues to develop can travel through the body and “report” on tissue abnormalities, such as changes in acidity or oxidative stress.

“Thousands of researchers around the world have been working on these imaging agents for many years,” Sherry said. “It’s a huge honor to be recognized by this world organization for being among the best.”

Sherry joined the UT Dallas faculty in 1972 and helped establish a new chemistry department on the young campus. In his 40-year career, he has published nearly 400 research papers. He holds more than 30 patents and founded a UT Dallas spinoff company called Macrocyclics, which produces specialized chemical compounds used in research. He also has mentored more than 100 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, and oversees the Green Fellows Program, which allows UT Dallas undergraduates to conduct laboratory research at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Sherry and fellow scientist Dr. Silvio Aime, from the University of Torino, Italy, will receive Gold Medal Awards Sept. 18 at the 6th Annual World Molecular Imaging Congress in Savannah, Ga.

“I think Silvio and I have been recognized with this award because we have been in front of the field for so long, and we’ve had a big impact,” said Sherry, who also is a professor of radiology and director of the Advanced Imaging Research Center at UT Southwestern.

Dr. Bruce Novak, dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at UT Dallas, said Sherry's accolade is well-deserved.

“There is an intrinsic fascination associated with peering behind a curtain, and through his research, Dean has developed reagents and techniques that allow us to pull back a most important curtain, to look deeply within our own selves,” said Novak, who holds the Distinguished Chair in Natural Sciences and Mathematics. “This stands as a marvelous career achievement and a stanchion of pride for the UT Dallas community.”