Bio-orthogonal mid-infrared imaging to map cancer metabolism
Official title: Bio-orthogonal Mid-Infrared Photothermal Imaging of Cancer Metabolism
Funded at Boston University (Charles River Campus) · NIH-11403828 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aim to use a new imaging method to visualize how cancer cells change their metabolism in real time, helping doctors understand and treat cancer better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University (Charles River Campus) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $407,115 |
| NIH project number | 5R33CA287046-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11403828 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancer or their tissue samples could benefit from advances in this imaging technique and related diagnostics.
✕Less likely to help
If a patient’s cancer does not rely on the metabolic pathways targeted by the new probes, they may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project develops a novel imaging approach to see how cancer cells reprogram their metabolism and interact with their surroundings. It uses bio-orthogonal mid-infrared photothermal imaging to observe chemical bonds in live cells with high sensitivity and subcellular detail. The work could lead to better ways to diagnose and tailor treatments by visualizing metabolic changes as cancer evolves.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this method could enable more precise visualization of cancer metabolism, potentially guiding personalized treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous methods struggled with live-cell and spatially resolved metabolic imaging, making this innovative approach potentially breakthrough.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University (Charles River Campus)
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheng, Ji-Xin — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: Cheng, Ji-Xin
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.