Fluorescence imaging to find inflamed and dead tissue during surgery
Fluorescence-based detection of inflammation and necrosis to inform surgical decision-making and enhance outcomes
Special fluorescent dyes and imaging aim to help surgeons spot inflamed or dead tissue in people with burns or tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323185 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are testing fluorescent imaging approaches — including standard indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), delayed high-dose ICG (SWIG), and a new naturally occurring fluorescent marker — to make dead or inflamed tissue light up so it can be seen during surgery. They will characterize how those fluorescent signals appear at the whole-wound level and under the microscope to learn what the images mean. The team will compare fluorescence to current visual inspection and perfusion-based imaging to determine whether it more accurately marks tissue that will not survive. The goal is to translate these findings into better tools to guide surgeons and reduce unnecessary removal of viable tissue.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with moderate-to-severe burns or patients having surgery for tumors where doctors are unsure which tissue is viable could be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with minor injuries that do not need surgery or conditions with no concern for localized necrosis are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help surgeons remove only nonviable tissue, reduce unnecessary operations, and improve healing after burns or tumor surgery.
How similar studies have performed: Related approaches like delayed high-dose ICG (SWIG) have shown promise for guiding tumor surgery, but applying fluorescence imaging specifically to burn necrosis is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gibson, Angela L F — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Gibson, Angela L F
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 below.