Light-responsive compounds for guiding cancer surgery and killing cancer cells
Official title: Light-Responsive Inorganic Compounds for Diagnosis and Therapy
Funded at University of Texas Arlington · NIH-11292279 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A cancer-focused project to develop glowing, safe osmium-based agents that help surgeons see tumors during operation and may also help kill remaining cancer cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Arlington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Arlington, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $565,569 |
| NIH project number | 1R15CA309873-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11292279 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are cancer patients undergoing tumor resection where imaging-guided surgery could improve outcomes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers unlikely to be addressed by imaging-guided surgery or with contraindications to imaging agents may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create bright, tissue-friendly imaging agents that illuminate tumors during surgery, improving precision and reducing recurrence after tumor removal. The agents are designed to be non-toxic in normal conditions but capable of helping phototherapy against cancer cells, even when oxygen levels vary. The work involves designing, testing, and potentially packaging these osmium compounds to optimize near-infrared light emission and combined imaging and treatment effects. Researchers plan to explore how encapsulating the agents in larger structures could enhance delivery and performance in a surgical setting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more complete tumor removal and a new option for targeted post-surgical cancer treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Precedents exist for imaging-guided surgery and phototherapy approaches, but this specific osmium-based, near-infrared agent strategy is novel.
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
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.