Molecular Imaging Pioneer, Sanjiv “Sam” Gambhir, Dies at 57

The Stanford Medical School professor’s research aided the development of positron emission tomography (PET) reporters to identify disease.

Written byLisa Winter

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ABOVE: © STEVE FISCH/STANFORD MEDICINE

Sanjiv “Sam” Gambhir, a giant in molecular imaging, died on July 18 of cancer at the age of 57. He was a professor and department head at Stanford University and is best known for his work developing tracers to identify abnormal cell activity using positron emission tomography (PET).

“Sam was a true visionary and a scientist of the highest caliber. His research and innovations have, with no uncertainty, founded modern medicine’s approach to early disease diagnostics and will continue to guide the future of precision health,” Stanford School of Medicine Dean Lloyd Minor says in a statement. “Sam’s contributions to Stanford, to human health, to the science of diagnostics and to the many lives he has touched and impacted throughout his career have been immeasurable.”

Born in India, Gambhir immigrated to Arizona as a young child and graduated from Arizona State University with a degree ...

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Meet the Author

Lisa Winter
Lisa joined The Scientist in 2017. As social media editor, some of her duties include creating content, managing interactions, and developing strategies for the brand’s social media presence. She also contributes to the News & Opinion section of the website. Lisa holds a degree in Biological Sciences with a concentration in genetics, cell, and developmental biology from Arizona State University and has worked in science communication since 2012.
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