Dr. Rebecca Abergel

Biography

Rebecca Abergel is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Chemistry and Nuclear Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. She leads the Heavy Element Chemistry Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Chemical Sciences Division. Her multidisciplinary research encompasses areas such as coordination chemistry, nuclear chemistry, radiochemistry, photophysics, chemical biology, health physics, pharmacology, and molecular cellular biology. Abergel's group investigates the impact of heavy element inorganic isotope exposure and contamination on biological systems. By studying coordination chemistry and the metabolic properties of lanthanide and actinide complexes formed with synthetic biological ligands, her team aims to enhance the understanding of biological coordination chemistry and the toxicity mechanisms of f-elements. This research is critical for developing targeted decontamination, waste management, remediation strategies, and radiopharmaceuticals. She has successfully led collaborations to create new drug products for treating populations contaminated with heavy metals and radionuclides, which received the Investigational New Drug status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2014, advancing to clinical trials. Her work has significantly contributed to advancements in radiobiology and chemical biology, garnering recognition in the scientific community.

Research Interests

Courses