Rebekah Drezek develops optical molecular imaging technologies for the in vivo assessment of tissue pathology and for the quantitative analysis of nanoparticle uptake and interaction within cellular environments. 

This basic, applied and translational research emphasizes the design, prototyping, and clinical testing of optical tools and nanomaterials that detect, diagnose, and treat cancer. Her work has included the translation of nanoscale tools, such as gold nanoparticles and quantum dot probes, for targeted molecular imaging and tumor margin assessment as well as the development of photothermal nanoparticles that target and eliminate cancer.

Working collaboratively on a five-year NIH research project grant with Aaron Foster of Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, the Drezek lab is currently investigating gold nanoparticle based delivery of cancer vaccines and adjuvants.

Drezek has served as principal investigator on an inter-institutional Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) project between Rice and UT MD Anderson Cancer Center to develop needle-based, high-resolution optical imaging approaches and nanoengineered imaging agents for breast cancer applications. She has also served as thrust director of the National Science Foundation's Engineering Research Center on Infrared Technologies for Health and the Environment.

Drezek’s research has been published in 118 papers and has led to four patents. Notable awards she has received include the MIT TR100 Technology Reviews’ selection of 100 Top Young Innovators Award (2004), the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) Becton Dickinson Career Achievement Award (2005), and the Beckman Young Investigator Award (2005). She was one of four scientists invited to speak on nanotechnology at the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Frontiers of Engineering annual meeting (2006), one of three breast cancer researchers recognized as a U.S. Department of Defense Era of Hope Scholar (2007), and the first bioengineer to receive the American Society for Photobiology Research Award (2008). Drezek is a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (2008) and a recipient of the Adolph Lomb Medal from the Optical Society (2009).