Creating special dyes for better imaging of blood vessels
Official title: Developing Activatable Fluorescent Flavonoids for Vascular Imaging
Funded at University of Akron · NIH-10579722 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing new glowing dyes that help scientists see blood vessels more clearly in living zebrafish, making it easier to understand how diseases affect them without any complicated steps.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Akron NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Akron, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $439,448 |
| NIH project number | 1R15GM148965-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10579722 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions affecting blood vessels, such as cardiovascular diseases or cancers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to vascular imaging or those who do not meet the specific criteria for the study may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new fluorescent dyes that enhance imaging of blood vessels by only glowing when they bind to their targets. This approach eliminates the need for washing away excess dye, which can complicate imaging processes. The dyes are designed to work in living organisms, specifically zebrafish, allowing for real-time observation of blood vessel behavior without invasive procedures. By improving the accuracy and ease of vascular imaging, this research aims to advance our understanding of various diseases and biological processes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a more efficient and accurate method for imaging blood vessels, which may improve diagnosis and treatment of vascular-related diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using fluorescent probes for imaging, but this specific approach with activatable flavonoids is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Akron
Akron, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pang, Yi — University of Akron
- Study coordinator: Pang, Yi
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.