Light-activated metal tools to image and treat disease
Official title: Metallo-Reagents as Photonic Tools
Funded at University of Texas Arlington · NIH-11433256 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher team at a university is developing tiny osmium metal compounds that light up and can be activated inside the body to help visualize and control disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Arlington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Arlington, United States) |
| Project start | August 18, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $339,676 |
| NIH project number | 1R01EB039757-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11433256 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people whose conditions could benefit from improved imaging and targeted light-activated treatments using metal-based probes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not eligible for imaging or photoactivated therapies using these specific Os-based tools may not experience direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create light-responsive osmium compounds that emit in the deep-tissue NIR-II range for clearer, deeper imaging. The work combines chemistry, computer modeling, and tests in biological settings to understand how the molecule and its surroundings affect light behavior. The team plans to synthesize these metallo-reagents, study their photophysics, and test their safety and performance in relevant biological models, with a focus on image-guided photoactivation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from sharper, deeper imaging and targeted light-activated therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Similar metal-based imaging agents exist, but this project aims for NIR-II emission and image-guided photoactivation, which is still under development.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Arlington
Arlington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcfarland, Sherri — University of Texas Arlington
- Study coordinator: Mcfarland, Sherri
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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.