Mai Huynh, Ph.D.

Instructor

Schools: Medical School | Graduate School
Departments: Advanced Imaging Research Center | Radiology
Graduate Programs: Biological Chemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology

Biography

Dr. Huynh is a biochemist specializing in biomedical molecular imaging and preclinical translation. Her research experience spans chemistry, microbiology, cell biology, NMR spectroscopy, and molecular imaging, integrating a variety of techniques. Her current research focuses on using isotope-labeled metabolic substrates and diseased tissues using heteronuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), imaging (MRI), and PET imaging.

Education

Graduate School: (2021), Chemistry

Publications

Featured Publications

Differential activation of TCA cycle activity and PDH flux by dichloroacetate in skeletal muscle measured by hyperpolarized [2-¹³C,3-²H₃]pyruvate.: Lin SH, Cho A, Huynh MT, Erfani Z, Kucejova B, Dewage SW, Jue T, Fu X, Kovács Z, Burgess SC, Park JM, iScience 2026 Sep 29 9 117325
Dimethyl [1,4-13C2]Fumarate as a Molecular Sensor for Gluconeogenesis in Renal versus Hepatic Tissues.: Huynh MT, Lin SH, Wen X, Erfani Z, Park JM, Kovacs Z, Malloy C, ACS Sens 2026 Aug 11 8 7055-7064
Accelerating Proton Exchange in 1,8-Bis(dialkylamino)naphthalene Proton Sponges through Intramolecular Catalysis for CEST MRI.: Huynh MT, Ranga M, Chirayil S, Wansapura J, Vinogradov E, Wen X, Boccalon M, Benyei A, Ratnakar J, Baranyai Z, Kovacs Z, J Am Chem Soc 2026 Jun 148 22 23325-23333
In vivo assessment of the recovery of myocardial pyruvate dehydrogenase activity following a ketogenic diet.: Chen J, Erfani Z, Elnwasany A, Al Nemri S, Park J, Huynh MT, Zaidi M, Harrison CE, Wen X, Szweda LI, Park JM, Cardiovasc Res 2026 Apr 122 6 723-733
Hyperpolarized ¹⁵N₂-Diazirine-Tagged MRI Probe for Monitoring γ-Glutamyl Transferase Activity.: Minerali E, Huynh MT, Park H, Chen J, Dewege SW, Park J, Erfani Z, Chirgwin ME, Derbyshire ER, Park JM, Wang Q, ACS Sens 2026 Feb 11 2 885-891
Homogeneous Catalysts for Hydrogenative PHIP Used in Biomedical Applications.: Huynh MT, Kovacs Z, Anal Sens 2025 Jan 5 1
Enhanced Solubility and Polarization of ¹³C-Fumarate with Meglumine Allows for In Vivo Detection of Gluconeogenic Metabolism in Kidneys.: Huynh MT, Erfani Z, Al Nemri S, Chirayil S, Kovacs Z, Park JM, ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2024 Jul 16 29 37435-37444
Hyperpolarized [2-¹³C, 3-²H₃]Pyruvate Detects Hepatic Gluconeogenesis In Vivo.: Huynh MT, Erfani Z, Kovács Z, Park JM, ACS Sens 2024 Jun 9 6 2801-2805
StereoPHIP: Stereoselective Parahydrogen-Induced Polarization.: Huynh MT, Buchanan E, Chirayil S, Adebesin AM, Kovacs Z, Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023 Nov 62 46 e202311669
Scavenger Receptor A1 Mediates the Uptake of Carboxylated and Pristine Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Coated with Bovine Serum Albumin.: Huynh MT, Mikoryak C, Pantano P, Draper R, Nanomaterials (Basel) 2021 Feb 11 2

Books

Hyperpolarized tracer design, synthesis, and characterization. In The Chemistry of Hyperpolarized Magnetic Resonance Probes

(2024). Academic Press

Honors & Awards

American Diabetes Association Postdoctoral Fellowship
Simultaneous, Noninvasive Imaging of Gluconeogenesis in Liver and Kidney in Type 2 Diabetes (2026)
NIH K01 Mentored Research Scientist Development Award
Design, Synthesis and Validation of Advanced Carbon Tracers to Image Gluconeogenesis (2026)
NIH T32 Endocrine and Metabolism Training Grant - NIDDK
Real-time, noninvasive assessment of gluconeogenic activity in vivo using hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy (2024-2025)
National Science Foundation - Graduate Research Fellowship Program
(2018-2021)
Eugene McDermott Graduate Fellowship
(2017-2021)
American Chemical Society - Chemistry Student of the Year
(2014)
Terry Foundation Scholarship - Honors College
(2014-2017)