Martin Pomper, M.D., Ph.D. - Faculty Profile

Biography

Martin G. Pomper, M.D., Ph.D., is a Professor and Chair of Radiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center and serves in both the Neuroradiology and Nuclear Medicine Divisions.  He holds the Effie and Wofford Cain Distinguished Chair of Diagnostic Imaging.  

Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Dr. Pomper received both his Ph.D. and M.D. degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He then underwent an internship on the Osler Medical Service, residency training in diagnostic radiology and separately in nuclear medicine, followed by a fellowship in neuroradiology, at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. 

Before joining UT Southwestern in 2023, Dr. Pomper served on the faculty of the Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science at Johns Hopkins University as the Director of the Division of Nuclear Medicine. He was the inaugural William R. Brody Chair of Radiology and later the Henry N. Wagner, Jr., M.D. Chair of Nuclear Medicine. He also served as the Associate Dean for Entrepreneurship and Technology Development and held joint appointments in several schools and departments including the Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Department of Biomedical Engineering.  

Dr. Pomper focuses his research on molecular imaging and therapy for cancer and central nervous system disorders. His work has resulted in nearly 500 peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals, and a number of patents and presentations at professional conferences throughout the world. 

While his work has involved molecular-genetic imaging, nanomedicine, and generation of new positron emission tomography (PET)-based agents for neuroinflammation, his greatest effort has been in the discovery and development of small molecules targeting the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). He created the first small molecules for imaging PSMA, and the first commercial PSMA-targeted PET agent (PYLARIFY®). His group also created the first PSMA-targeted imaging and therapeutic (theranostic) agents incorporating a radiometal. Compounds of the same chemical class have been approved by the FDA and are used worldwide to help manage patients with prostate cancer.

Dr. Pomper’s commitment to advancing medical research is evidenced by his service to the Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Institutes of Health, the Scientific Review Committee of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, and the World Molecular Imaging Society. 

During his spare time, Dr. Pomper enjoys spending time with family, reading, music, and sports. 

Education

Medical School: (1990), Medicine

Research Interest

Development of Precision Molecular Imaging Agents
Development of targets germane to cancer and central nervous system disease

Publications

Advances and challenges in precision imaging: Hricak H, Mayerhoefer ME, Herrmann K, Lewis JS, Pomper MG, Hess CP, Riklund K, Scott AM, Weissleder R The Lancet Oncology 2025 Jan 26 e34-e45
CNS Vasculitis in Autoimmune Disease: MR Imaging Findings and Correlation with Angiography: Pomper MG, Miller TJ, Stone JH, Tidmore WC, Hellmann DB American Journal of Neuroradiology 2024 Dec 45 S76-S86
[¹⁸F]F-AraG Uptake in Vertebral Bone Marrow May Predict Survival in Patients with Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Anti-PD-(L)1 Immunotherapy: Levi J, Das M, Vasanawala MS, Behl D, Pomper M, Forde PM, Nakajima E, Sayre J, Shen B, Cabrera H, Mar ND, Gullen M, Pierini M, Cox L, Lokre O, Perk T, Chae HD Journal of Nuclear Medicine 2024 Dec 65 1869-1875
A radioligand for in vitro autoradiography of CSF1R in post-mortem CNS tissues: Foss CA, Naik R, Das D, Cha H, Minn I, Hall A, Finley P, Wu SJ, Du Y, Dannals RF, Pomper MG, Horti AG EJNMMI Research 2024 Dec 14
Initial Experience with [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 After Regulatory Approval for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Efficacy, Safety, and Outcome Prediction: Gafita A, Voter A, Shesadri S, Spitz A, Marshall CH, Rowe SP, Markowski MC, Pomper MG, Civelek AC, Carducci MA, Denmeade SR, Young J, Pienta KJ, Paller CJ, Solnes LB Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine 2024 Nov 65 1724-1730
Efficacy and Toxicity of [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Results from the U.S. Expanded-Access Program and Comparisons with Phase 3 VISION Data: Murthy V, Voter AF, Nguyen K, Allen-Auerbach M, Chen L, Caputo S, Ledet E, Akerele A, Moradi Tuchayi A, Lawhn-Heath C, Wang T, Carducci MA, Pomper MG, Paller CJ, Czernin J, Solnes LB, Hope TA, Sartor O, Calais J, Gafita A Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine 2024 Nov 65 1740-1744
The cutting edge: Promising oncology radiotracers in clinical development: Oldan JD, Pomper MG, Werner RA, Higuchi T, Rowe SP Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging 2024 Oct 105 400-406
A third generation PSMA-targeted agent [²¹¹At]YF2: Synthesis and in vivo evaluation: Feng Y, Meshaw RL, Finch SW, Zheng Y, Minn I, Vaidyanathan G, Pomper MG, Zalutsky MR Nuclear Medicine and Biology 2024 Jul 134-135
Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen PET Response Associates with Metastasis-Free Survival After Stereotactic Ablative Radiation in Oligometastatic Prostate Cancer: Sutera P, Deek MP, Deek RA, Guler OC, Hurmuz P, Reyhan M, Rowe S, Radwan N, Dipasquale S, Hrinivich WT, Lowe K, Ren L, Saraiya B, Ennis R, Hathout L, Mayer T, Deweese TL, Song DY, Kiess A, Oymak E, Pienta K, Feng F, Pomper M, Ozyigit G, Tran PT, Onal C, Phillips RM Advances in Radiation Oncology 2024 Jul 9
Investigating the Mechanism of Aluminum Fluoride Chelation: Carroll L, Holt D, Cha H, Catazaro J, Thorley KJ, Dannals RF, Pomper MG Inorganic Chemistry 2024 May 63 9831-9841

Books

Preclinical experimentation in oncology. In Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry

Nimmagadda, S., Shelake, S., Pomper, M. G. (2019). New York, Springer

Small molecule vectors for endoradiotherapy. In Endoradiotherapy

Rowe, S. P., Werner, R. A., Garg, T., Gafita, A., Voter, A. F., Sadaghiani, M. S., Markowski, M. C., Paller, C. J., Zalutsky, M. R., Solnes, L. B., Pomper, M. G. (). New York, Springer

Central Nervous System Molecular Imaging. In Molecular Imaging Principles and Practice

Solnes, L. B., Jacobs, A. H., Coughlin, J. M., Du, Y., Goel, R., Hammoud, D. A., Pomper, M. G. (2020). Shelton, CT, Peoples Medical Publishing House

Prostate Cancer Theranostics. In Molecular Imaging Principles and Practice

Rowe, S. P., Sadaghiani, M. S., Werner, R. A., Higuchi, T., Derlin, T., Solnes, L. B., Pomper, M. G. (2020). Shelton, CT, Peoples Medical Publishing House

Molecular Imaging in Oncology

Pomper, M. G., Gelovani, J. T., eds. (2008). New York: Informa Health

Imaging infection based on expression of thymidine kinase. In Targeted Molecular Imaging

Bettegowda, C., Byun, Y., Foss, C. A., Sgouros, G., Ambinder, R. F., Pomper, M. G. (2012). Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press

The evolving role of imaging in cancer: current state and future challenges. In Semin Oncology

Higgins, L., Pomper, M. G. (2011). Philadelphia, Saunders

Recent Development of Therapeutic and Diagnostic Agents Targeting Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II (GCP II). In Drug Design of Zinc-Enzyme Inhibitors

Byun, Y., Mease, R. C., Babich, J. W., Pomper, M. G. (2009). Hoboken, NJ, John Wiley & Sons

Brain abscess. In Bakers Clinical Neurology

Nath, A., Crain, B., Hammoud, D. A., Pomper, M. G. (2006). Baltimore, Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins

Central nervous system imaging. In Oncology: An Evidence-Based Approach

Hammoud, D. A., Pomper, M. G. (2006). New York, Springer-Verlag

Feasibility of micro-SPECT/CT imaging of atherosclerotic plaques in a transgenic mouse model. In Small Animal SPECT Imaging

Tsui, B. M. W., Wang, Y., Qi, Y., Sawyer, S., Frey, E. C., Majewski, S., Pomper, M. G. (2005). Berlin, Springer

Chordoid Glioma of the Third Ventricle. In Textbook of Neuro-Oncology

Gallia, G.L., Pomper, M. G., Olivi, A. (2005). Philadelphia, Elsevier-Saunders

New techniques in MR imaging of brain tumors. In Neuroimaging Clinics of North America

Pomper M. G. and Port, J. D. (2001). Philadelphia, Elsevier-Saunders

Functional and metabolic imaging. In Cancer: principles and practice of oncology

Pomper, M. G. (2000). Baltimore, Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins

New techniques in MR imaging of brain tumors. In Magnetic Resonance Imaging Clinics of North America

Pomper, M. G. and Port, J. D. (2000). Philadelphia, Saunders

Pulmonary embolism. In Manual of radiology: acute problems and essential procedures

Pomper, M. G. (1997). Philadelphia, Lippincott-Raven

Clinical translation of molecular imaging probes. In Molecular Probes for Cancer Research

Cho, S. Y., Pomper, M. G. (2010). Singapore, World Scientific Publishing Co

CNS molecular imaging. In Molecular Imaging Principles and Practice

Hammoud, D. A., Jacobs, A., Pomper, M. G. (2010). Shelton, CT, Peoples Medical Publishing House

Spinal puncture and myelography. In Manual of radiology: acute problems and essential procedures

Pomper, M. G. (1997). Philadelphia, Lippincott-Raven

Honors & Awards

Elected as a Fellow
Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (2023)
Sam Gambhir Innovation Prize
International Society for Strategic Studies in Radiology (2023)
Best of Baltimore Award (Doctor)
Baltimore Award Program (2022)
Elected Emeritus
Interurban Clinical Club, Johns Hopkins (2022)
Most Influential Radiology Researcher
Aunt Minnie (2022)
Elected as a Senior Member
National Academy of Inventors (2021)
Gold Medal
World Molecular Imaging Society (2021)
Most Influential Radiology Researcher Semifinalist
Aunt Minnie (2021)
Top Doctor
Maryland Magazine (2021)
Elected as a Fellow
World Molecular Imaging Society (2020)
Excellence in Teaching Award
Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University (2018)
Most Influential Radiology Researcher Semifinalist
Aunt Minnie (2018)
America's Top Physicians
Consumer's Research Council of America (2017)
Elected Member
National Academy of Medicine (2017)
Paul C. Aebersold Award
Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (2017)
Elected Member
National Academy of Inventors (2016)
Most Influential Radiology Researcher Semifinalist
Aunt Minnie (2016)
Challenge Award
Prostate Cancer Foundation (2015)
Elected Member
Interurban Clinical Club, Johns Hopkins Chapter (2014)
Johns Hopkins Radiology Resident Mentoring Award
(2014-2015)
Most Influential Radiology Researcher Semifinalist
Aunt Minnie (2014)
A. David Mazzone Challenge Award
Prostate Cancer Foundation (2012)
Distinguished Investigator
Academy of Radiology Research (2012)
Berson-Yalow Award
Society of Nuclear Medicine (2011)
Berson-Yalow Award
Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (2010)
Frost & Sullivan Technology Innovation of the Year Award
(2010)
Distinguished Service Award
Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (2008)
Berson-Yalow Award
Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (2007)
Certificate of Merit
Radiological Society of North America (1998)
Young Investigator Award
National Association for Research in Schizophrenia and Depression (1997-1999)
Scholars Grant Award
Radiological Society of North America (1996-1998)
William Gatewood Fellowship
Johns Hopkins University (1995)
Berson-Yalow Award
Society of Nuclear Medicine (1988)
Jordan F. Asketh Fellow
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1988-1990)
R. C. Fuson Award for Excellence in Organic Chemistry
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1988)
Second Place, Student Medical Research Forum
University of Illinois (1988)
Graduate College Conference Travel Grant
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (1987)
Second Place
Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmacology Essay Contest (1985)
Head Teaching Assistant
Chemistry 101, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1983-1984)
Outstanding Teaching Assistant
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1983-1985)
Medical Scholars Program
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1982-1990)

Professional Associations/Affiliations

American Association of Cancer Research
American Chemical Society
American College of Nuclear Medicine
American College of Radiology
American Roentgen Ray Society
American Society of Neuroradiology
Eastern Neuroradiological Society
Phi Lambda Upsilon
Radiological Society of North America
Sigma Xi
Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
The Society of Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry and Biology
World Molecular Imaging Society