View source for Nizar A. Mullani

{{short description|American physicist, entrepreneur (born 1942)}}
{{Orphan|date=October 2024}}

{{Infobox person
| name        = Nizar Abdul Mullani
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1942|10|22|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Dar es Salaam]], Tanzania
| occupation  = Physicist, entrepreneur
| birthname   = Nizar Abdul Mullani
| spouse      = {{marriage|Linda Mullani|1996|2021|end=died}}
| children    = Ethan Mullani (b. 1984)
| alma_mater  = [[Washington University]]
}}

'''Nizar A. Mullani''' (born October 22, 1942, in [[Dar es Salaam]]), Tanzania, is an American American physicist and entrepreneur. Mullani's research and technological innovation has included pioneering work in [[positron emission tomography]], vein imaging and [[dermoscopy]]. He was the [[Georg Charles de Hevesy]] Nuclear Pioneer Award recipient in 2023.<ref>[https://www.snmmi.org/AboutSNMMI/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=33878 George Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Pioneer Awardees]</ref>

Since 1998, Mullani has focused on entrepreneurial ventures, bringing several of his inventions to market under the Veinlite<ref>[http://www.veinlite.com Veinlite vein access devices]</ref> and DermLite<ref>[https://www.dermlite.com DermLite dermoscopy products]</ref> brands.

==Early life and education==
Mullani was one of five children born to Indian parents in [[Dar es Salaam]], Tanzania.

In 1963, Nizar Mullani immigrated to the United States, enrolling at [[Washington University in St. Louis]], Missouri. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in [[Physics]].

==Early career==
Following his studies, Mullani was appointed as a Research Assistant at the Biomedical Computer Lab of the [[Washington University School of Medicine]] (1969–1980) where he worked on the early PET camera models and imaging techniques.

From 1976 to 1980, Mullani held a Research Assistant position at the [[Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology]].

In 1980, Mullani was hired as an Assistant Professor and Director of PET instrumentation at the [[University of Texas Medical School]], developing an advanced Time-of-Flight PET camera.<ref>[https://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/jnumed/21/11/1095.full.pdf Feasibility of Time-of-Flight Reconstruction in Positron Emission Tomography]</ref> He also contributed toward the development of the Rubidium-82 generator<ref>[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735109786803369?via%3Dihub Noninvasive assessment of coronary stenoses by myocardial perfusion imaging during pharmacologic coronary vasodilation. VIII. Clinical feasibility of positron cardiac imaging without a cyclotron using generator-produced Rubidium-82]</ref> for use with imaging blood flow in the heart.

==Business career==
===Positron Corporation===
In 1984, Mullani founded [[Positron Corporation]]. Positron designed and manufactured POSICAM Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scanners for the imaging of cancer and heart disease.

===TransLite LLC===
In 1998, Mullani launched TransLite LLC and the Veinlite brand. Veinlite devices utilize transillumination technology to image veins in real time. There have been three clinical validation studies performed using Veinlite devices, demonstrating an improvement in venous access success rates (92.9% first-stick success rate, compared to 72% in Standard of Care)<ref>[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29794951/ Efficacy of Veinlite PEDI in Pediatric Peripheral Intravenous Access: A Randomized Controlled Trial]</ref><ref>[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18277843 Veinlite transillumination in the pediatric emergency department: a therapeutic interventional trial]</ref><ref>[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28484817/ Pen Torch Transillumination: Difficult Venipuncture Made Easy]</ref> in children and adults.

===3Gen LLC===
In 1999, Mullani founded 3Gen LLC. He designed the first DermLite product and subsequently served as director of research and development responsible for new products. DermLite products use polarized imaging to magnify deep into the epidermis layer skin, aiding in early detection<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5447356/ Dermatoscopy Image Characteristics and Differences among Commonly Used Standard Dermatoscopes]</ref> of skin cancer.

==Innovations and designs==
Mullani holds several U.S. patents and trademarks<ref>[https://www.veinlite.com/patents-trademarks Patents and trademarks]</ref> related to positron emission tomography, dermoscopy and vein imaging.

== Awards and recognition ==

In 2023, Mullani was named recipient of the 2023 SNMMI Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Pioneer Award, which is given each year to an individual for outstanding contributions to the field of nuclear medicine.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.veinlite.com]: Veinlite company website
* [https://www.dermlite.com]: 3Gen LLC company website
* [https://www.positron.com]: Positron Corp. company website

{{catimprove|date=November 2024}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mullani, Nizar A.}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]