Making parathyroid glands glow during surgery
Targeting parathyroid glands with novel fluorophores for intraoperative imaging
A new near-infrared dye designed to help surgeons find and preserve parathyroid glands during thyroid and parathyroid operations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321657 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be offered a fluorescent dye that lights up parathyroid tissue in real time so surgeons can see tiny glands more clearly during neck surgery. The research team has created hundreds of candidate near-infrared dyes and is selecting the brightest and most specific ones for endocrine tissues. Promising dyes will be tested in the lab and in animal models before advancing toward use during human surgeries to help identify normal glands and parathyroid adenomas. The aim is to guide the surgeon’s choices during the operation so fewer glands are damaged or removed and tumors are found and removed more accurately.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people scheduled for thyroid surgery who face a risk of parathyroid damage or patients with hyperparathyroidism planning parathyroidectomy.
Not a fit: People not undergoing neck surgery or whose health issues are unrelated to the parathyroid glands would not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the dye could reduce accidental parathyroid removal, lower the chance of postoperative low calcium, and make parathyroid tumor removal more precise.
How similar studies have performed: Near-infrared autofluorescence is already used in operating rooms with mixed sensitivity and specificity, and this project builds on that work by testing newer, brighter fluorophores.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kashiwagi, Satoshi — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Kashiwagi, Satoshi
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.