Developing new light-responsive materials for therapy
Official title: Efficient red-to-NIR photo-uncaging and applications in therapy
Funded at New Jersey Institute of Technology · NIH-10794730 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring new materials that can safely use special light to help deliver medications and treat conditions like cancer more effectively, making treatments less invasive and more precise for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New Jersey Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, United States) |
| Project start | August 8, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $406,832 |
| NIH project number | 1R15EB034477-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10794730 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing treatment for cancers or conditions that could benefit from advanced drug delivery and gene therapy techniques.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions that do not involve the need for targeted drug delivery or light-responsive therapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating innovative materials that respond to red-to-near-infrared light, which can penetrate tissues more effectively and cause less damage than traditional light sources. By utilizing advanced organic compounds, the project aims to enhance drug delivery systems, activate gene therapy, and modulate neurons through precise light control. Patients may benefit from improved therapies that are less invasive and more targeted, potentially leading to better outcomes in cancer treatment and other conditions. The approach involves synthesizing new chemical compounds and testing their effectiveness in various biological applications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and less harmful therapies for conditions like cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using light-responsive materials for therapeutic applications, indicating a potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Yuanwei — New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Yuanwei
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Placental exposure to tiny plastics and how they may affect pregnancy
Tiny plastic particles in the environment may reach pregnant bodies and developing placentas, potentially impacting pregnancy outcomes.
-
The role of social spaces in how we learn vocal communication
A study explores how moving and talking skills develop together in early life, using a bird model to understand how space and speech influence language development.
-
Role of directional stress in activating fibroblasts
This grant explores how directional forces in tissue affect fibroblast activation and memory, with potential to improve wound healing and prevent scarring.
-
New AI-powered tools for single-cell omics data
A research team will build user-friendly AI and statistical tools to analyze single-cell genomics data from diverse experiments to help biomedical researchers understand cell behavior.
-
Gas-filled microbubbles plus ultrasound to protect newborn brains after oxygen loss
This project uses tiny gas-filled microbubbles and ultrasound to deliver protective gases to newborns who suffered oxygen-deprived brain injury (hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy).
-
Turning heart energy into power for leadless heart pacemakers
A new approach aims to harvest energy from the heartbeat to power small leadless pacemakers, reducing the need for frequent battery changes in people with heart rhythm problems.
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.