Safer body-friendly dyes for deeper cancer imaging
Biocompatible fluorophores for shortwave infrared imaging
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · NIH-11175335
This project is developing safe, body-friendly fluorescent dyes to help doctors see tumors deeper inside the body using shortwave infrared light.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11175335 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers are creating new fluorescent dyes that glow in the shortwave infrared (SWIR) band, which penetrates tissue farther and gives clearer images. They are synthesizing and testing many dye designs, learning how to make them water-soluble and biocompatible, and optimizing how to formulate them for imaging. The team uses multicolor imaging in mice to compare controls and treatments in the same animal and to refine imaging methods. If those steps succeed, the dyes could be adapted for clinical tools like non-invasive scans or to help guide surgeons during operations.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with solid tumors who need imaging or surgery may be candidates for future clinical tests of these SWIR contrast agents.
Not a fit: People with cancers that do not form solid tumors (for example many blood cancers) or those with known severe allergies to contrast agents may not directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these dyes could enable clearer, deeper, and multicolor imaging of cancers, improving diagnosis and surgical guidance.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical work, including multicolor SWIR imaging in mice by this team and others, has shown promise, but human clinical use is still untested.
Where this research is happening
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES — LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SLETTEN, ELLEN MAY — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- Study coordinator: SLETTEN, ELLEN MAY
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.
Conditions: Cancers