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Bilde av Kranz, Mathias
Bilde av Kranz, Mathias
Researcher Department of Medical Biology mathias.kranz@uit.no Tromsø You can find me here

Mathias Kranz

Job description

I am currently a Researcher and Principal Investigator (PI) at the Tumor Biology Research Group within the Institute for Medical Biology at UiT – The Arctic University of Norway. My work is supported by a prestigious TFS/TMS Starting Grant for the NORTHCARE project, which focuses on novel theranostic applications of radiotherapeutics for personalized cancer treatment. This project pioneers a personalized theranostic approach for treating glioblastoma (GBM) by integrating radiotheranostics, focused ultrasound (FUS), and PET/SPECT imaging.

By targeting specific tumor microenvironment (TME) markers, such as Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) and Fibroblast Activating Protein (FAP), NORTHCARE aims to enhance treatment precision while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. The project explores copper-64 and copper-67 isotopes for both imaging and therapy, combined with Acoustic Cluster Therapy (ACT) to improve drug delivery to tumors. With a global network of collaborators, NORTHCARE is pushing the boundaries of nuclear medicine and oncology. This cutting-edge research could transform cancer treatment—not only for GBM but for other aggressive cancers as well.

In addition, I serve as a PI at the Norwegian Nuclear Medicine Consortium (180°N) at the Department of Diagnostic Services, University Hospital North Norway (UNN). My responsibilities include the development and preclinical evaluation of radiopharmaceuticals, PET/MR imaging of brain tumors, and investigations into the tumor microenvironment. This role integrates advanced molecular imaging techniques with therapeutic development to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment precision.

My work is characterized by a translational approach, bridging fundamental research with clinical applications, and fostering collaborations with international institutions. I also actively supervise PhD and Master’s students, contribute to academic teaching, and maintain a commitment to advancing radiotheranostic research for the benefit of cancer patients globally.

  • Ursula Søndergaard, Thomas Kolle Ekaney, Kristina Søborg Pedersen, Mathias Kranz, Rune Sundset, Angel Moldes-Anaya et al.:
    Production of 67Cu at a biomedical cyclotron via 70Zn(p,α)67Cu reaction and its evaluation in a preclinical study using small animal SPECT/CT
    Applied Radiation and Isotopes 2025 DOI
  • Piyapan Suwattananuruk, Sukanya Yaset, Chanisa Chotipanich, Angel Moldes-Anaya, Rune Sundset, Rodrigo Berzaghi et al.:
    Radiosynthesis and preclinical evaluation of a 68Ga-labeled tetrahydroisoquinoline-based ligand for PET imaging of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 in an animal model of glioblastoma
    EJNMMI Radiopharmacy and Chemistry 2024 ARKIV / DOI
  • Kjersti Sellæg, Ruth Schwienbacher, Mathias Kranz, Anna Engan Aamodt, Anna Maria Wirsing, gerd Berge et al.:
    4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide-induced oral epithelial lesions exhibit time- and stage-dependent changes in the tumor immune microenvironment
    Frontiers in Oncology 2024 ARKIV / DOI
  • Shaheen Syed, Kathryn Elizabeth Anderssen, Svein Kristian Stormo, Mathias Kranz :
    Weakly supervised semantic segmentation for MRI: exploring the advantages and disadvantages of class activation maps for biological image segmentation with soft boundaries
    Scientific Reports 2023 ARKIV / DOI
  • Samuel Ortega, Ragni Ofstad, Shaheen Syed, Mathias Kranz, Karsten Heia, Kathryn Elizabeth Anderssen :
    Characterization of vasskveite (water halibut) syndrome for automated detection
    Applied Food Research 2023 ARKIV / DOI
  • Susannah von Hofsten, Marianne Hagensen Paulsen, Synnøve Magnussen, Dominik Ausbacher, Mathias Kranz, Annette Bayer et al.:
    The marine natural product mimic MPM-1 is cytolytic and induces DAMP release from human cancer cell lines
    Scientific Reports 2022 ARKIV / DOI
  • Marcel Lindemann, Ana Oteiza, Montserrat Martin-Armas, Yngve Guttormsen, Angel Moldes-Anaya, Rodrigo Berzaghi et al.:
    Glioblastoma PET/MRI: kinetic investigation of [18F]rhPSMA-7.3, [18F]FET and [18F]fluciclovine in an orthotopic mouse model of cancer
    European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2022 ARKIV / DOI
  • Kathryn Elizabeth Anderssen, Geir W. Gabrielsen, Mathias Kranz, France Collard :
    Magnetic resonance imaging for non-invasive measurement of plastic ingestion in marine wildlife
    Marine Pollution Bulletin 2022 ARKIV / DOI
  • Kathryn Elizabeth Anderssen, Mathias Kranz, Shaheen Syed, Svein Kristian Stormo :
    Diffusion tensor imaging for spatially-resolved characterization of muscle fiber structure in seafood
    Food Chemistry 2022 ARKIV / DOI
  • Thu Hang Lai, Susann Schröder, Magali Toussaint, Sladjana Dukić-Stefanović, Mathias Kranz, Friedrich-Alexander Ludwig et al.:
    Development of 8f-labeled radiotracers for pet imaging of the adenosine a2a receptor: Synthesis, radiolabeling and preliminary biological evaluation
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2021 ARKIV / DOI
  • Juliane Weiner, Lisa Roth, Mathias Kranz, Peter Brust, Anita Boelen, Nora Klöting et al.:
    Leptin counteracts hypothermia in hypothyroidism through its pyrexic effects and by stabilizing serum thyroid hormone levels
    Molecular Metabolism 2021 DOI
  • Thu Hang Lai, Magali Toussaint, Rodrigo Teodoro, Sladjana Dukić-Stefanović, Mathias Kranz, Winnie Deuther-Conrad et al.:
    Synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel 18F-labeled radiotracer for PET imaging of the adenosine A2A receptor
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences 25. January 2021 ARKIV / DOI
  • Bernhard Sattler, Mathias Kranz, Barbara Wenzel, Nalin T. Jain, Rareş-Petru Moldovan, Magali Toussaint et al.:
    Preclinical incorporation dosimetry of [18F]FACH—A novel 18F-labeled MCT1/MCT4 lactate transporter inhibitor for imaging cancer metabolism with PET
    Molecules 2020 ARKIV / DOI
  • Susann Schröder, Thu Hang Lai, Magali Toussaint, Mathias Kranz, Alexandra Chovsepian, Qi Shang et al.:
    PPET imaging of the adenosine A2A receptor in the rotenone-based mouse model of Parkinson’s disease with [18F]FESCH synthesized by a simplified two-step one-pot radiolabeling strategy
    Molecules 2020 ARKIV / DOI
  • Magali Toussaint, Winnie Deuther-Conrad, Mathias Kranz, Steffen Fischer, Friedrich-Alexander Ludwig, Tareq A. Juratli et al.:
    Sigma-1 receptor positron emission tomography: A new molecular imaging approach using (S)-(-)-[18F]fluspidine in glioblastoma
    Molecules 06. May 2020 ARKIV / DOI
  • Rien Ritawidya, Barbara Wenzel, Rodrigo Teodoro, Magali Toussaint, Mathias Kranz, Winnie Deuther-Conrad et al.:
    Radiosynthesis and biological investigation of a novel fluorine-18 labeled benzoimidazotriazine- based radioligand for the imaging of phosphodiesterase 2A with positron emission tomography
    Molecules 2019 ARKIV / DOI
  • Karoline Nordli, Hanna Bähr, Mathias Kranz, Angel Moldes-Anaya, Jørn H Hansen :
    Towards a Novel Radiotracer for PET – Imaging of Glioblastoma Targeting the Notch Signaling Pathway
    2023
  • Karoline Nordli, Hanna Bähr, Angel Moldes-Anaya, Jørn H Hansen, Mathias Kranz :
    Towards a novel radiotracer for PET – imaging of glioblastoma targeting the Notch signaling pathway
    2022
  • Yngve Guttormsen, Angel Moldes-Anaya, Richard Fjellaksel, Ana Oteiza, Montserrat Martin-Armas, Marcel Lindemann et al.:
    Development of a carbon-11 labeled thienopyrimidine based radioligand for EGFR-tyrosine-kinase-inhibitor (TKI) specific PET imaging of glioblastoma
    Journal of Nuclear Medicine 2021
  • Yngve Guttormsen, Mathias Kranz, Richard Fjellaksel, Montserrat Martin-Armas, Ana Oteiza, Julia Bihler et al.:
    SP-015 - Preliminary evaluation of a novel carbon-11 labeled brain-penetrant EGFR-TKI radiotracer for brain cancer imaging
    Nuclear Medicine and Biology 2021 DOI

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    Research interests

    My research lies at the intersection of molecular imaging, radiopharmaceutical development, and personalized cancer therapy, with a special emphasis on glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer. My primary focus is on radiotheranostics—an innovative field combining diagnostic imaging and targeted therapy to enhance treatment precision and minimize side effects. By coupling radioactive elements with molecules that bind specifically to cancer cells, my work aims to improve both the detection and localized treatment of tumors, reducing collateral damage to healthy tissues.

    I am deeply invested in translating preclinical discoveries into clinical applications. My research integrates cutting-edge imaging modalities, such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), to explore tumor microenvironments and evaluate novel radiotracers. A key area of interest is developing theranostic agents that exploit molecular targets, enabling both visualization and therapeutic intervention in cancers like glioblastoma.

    Beyond glioblastoma, I am interested in advancing methodologies that bridge fundamental research and clinical practice, particularly in radiotracer development and dosimetry. My projects have involved collaborations with international institutions such as Yale University, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, and Mahidol University, allowing me to explore diverse approaches to radiotherapy and molecular imaging.

    Through innovative research and multidisciplinary collaborations, I aim to address the critical challenges in oncology, fostering breakthroughs that improve outcomes for cancer patients worldwide.

    ORCID: 0000-0002-5641-7396

    CV

    Employment history
    Current
    2025-               Researcher and PI (TFS/TMS Starting Grant)
    Institute for Medical Biology, Tumor Biology Research Group, UiT The Arctic University of Norway
    2019-               Researcher and PI (180°N Norwegian Consortium in Nuclear Medicine)
    Dept. of Diagnostic Services, UNN/PET center/ UiT-IKM, Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Biology.
    Previous
    2016-2018       Post doc at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Leipzig, Germany
    2016-2017       Visiting researcher at Yale university, PET center, New Haven, CT, USA
    2012-2016       PhD in Biomedicine at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Neuro-Radiopharmaceuticals (Development and animal testing of brain/cancer radiotracers)
    Education
    2010-2012       M.Sc. Biomedical Engineering, Technical University of Ilmenau, Germany
    2006-2010       B.Sc. Biomedical Engineering, Technical University of Ilmenau, Germany/ ERASMUS: Technical University of Košice, Slowakia

     

    Full CV see "vedlegg"

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