Associate Professor Xiaowei Wang is a cardiovascular researcher interested in using imaging technologies like ultrasound, MRI and CT to identify high-risk plaque in the arteries. She is also interested in developing targeted drug delivery methods without side effects to help people recover after a heart attack.

Associate Professor Wang heads the Molecular Imaging and Theranostics laboratory at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, and co-chairs the Atherothrombosis Program.

She was trained as a sonographer for echocardiography prior to her research career; therefore her work has a strong focus on translational cardiovascular research. Associate Professor Wang’s work spans across several scientific fields, including physics, chemistry, biology and biotechnology, and uniquely combines both basic research and translational development of future diagnostic tools to be used in patients. Her research focuses on preclinical molecular imaging across a range of technologies, such as MRI, ultrasound, PET, microCT, fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging. Associate Professor Wang has employed these technologies for both diagnostic and theranostic (simultaneous diagnosis, therapy and monitoring of treatment efficacy) purposes. Her other research interests are targeted drug therapy and the use of micro/nanoparticles for targeted delivery of drugs.

Associate Professor Wang has presented her work at numerous conferences. She has been awarded 15 international and 12 national travel grants, 14 Young Investigator Awards and 18 prizes. Associate Professor Wang is also a founding member of the Australian Society of Molecular Imaging (ASMI), established in 2013, and was elected as President. She is the Australian Representative for both the Federation of Asian Societies of Molecular Imaging (FASMI) and the World Molecular Imaging Society (WMIS). Associate Professor Wang is the President-elect of FASMI and will be President in 2021. She is also a member of the Baker Institute’s Gender Equity and Diversity Committee, Chair of the Institute’s Mentoring Committee, and on the Leadership Committee of the Women in Molecular Imaging Network.