Valerie C. Pierre, PhD

Bio

The Pierre's research group exploits coordination and organic chemistry to solve medical and environmental problems. The group uses siderophores, natural products synthesized by bacteria to chelate iron, as a template to design novel chemical probes and imaging agents to rapidly diagnose bacterial infections in vitro and in vivo and to develop antibiotics with improved efficacy against antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. 

As part of our environmental efforts, we are designing new complexes, supramolecular receptors and polymeric membranes to remove pollutants and toxic compounds such as phosphates, arsenate and cyanide from surface water.

Expertise

Diagnostics, bacterial infections, imaging

Awards & Recognition

• Edward I. Stiefel award in Bioinorganic Chemistry, 2012
• NSF CAREER, 2012
• Earle C. Anthony Fellowship, University of California, Berkeley, 2002-2003
• Rhône-Alpes Fellowship, France, 2000-2001
• Leonardo Fellowship, European Union, 1999-2000

PubM ed Bibliography

1.Huang, S. Y.; Pierre, V. C. A turn-on luminescent europium probe for cyanide detection in water. ChemComm 2018, 54, 9210-9213.

2.Peterson, K. L.; Srivastava, K.; Pierre, V. C. Fluorinated paramagnetic complexes: sensitive and responsive probes for magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging. Front. Chem. 2018, 6, 160.

3.Shaklee, J.; Srivastava, K.; Brown, H.; Arriaga, E. A.; Pierre, V. C.; van Berlo, J. H. Development of a click-chemistry reagent compatible with mass cytometry. Sci. Rep. 2018, 8, 6657.

4.Pierre, V. C.; Harris, S. M.; Pailloux, S. L. Comparing strategies in the design of responsive contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging: a case study with copper and zinc. Acc. Chem. Res. 2018, 51, 342-351.

5.Srivastava, K.; Ferrauto, G.; Young, V. G., Jr.; Aime, S.; Pierre, V. C. Eight-coordinate, stable Fe(II) complex as a dual (19)F and CEST contrast agent for ratiometric pH imaging. Inorg. Chem. 2017, 56, 12206-12213.