Tools that light up cancer and nerves during prostate removal
Official title: Multichannel Fluorescence Guided Surgery Tools Enabling Simultaneous Cancer Margin and Nerve Visualization in Prostatectomy
Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11307146 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project develops cameras and safe fluorescent dyes to show prostate cancer margins and nearby nerves in real time during prostate removal surgery for men with prostate cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | May 10, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $614,992 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA271532-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11307146 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men scheduled to undergo radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, especially those where surgeons are balancing cancer removal with nerve-sparing decisions, are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People not having prostate surgery—such as those on active surveillance, receiving radiation, or with widespread metastatic disease—would not directly benefit from this surgical imaging approach.
What this research studies
The team is creating a multichannel near-infrared imaging system plus targeted fluorescent probes that label both prostate cancer tissue and the nerve plexus at the same time. They will test probe distribution, safety, and imaging performance in the lab and in preclinical models before integrating the dyes with an intraoperative camera for real-time use. The approach aims to give surgeons clearer visual guidance to remove cancer while avoiding nerve damage. Work includes optimizing contrast agents, imaging hardware, and methods for simultaneous tumor-and-nerve visualization during prostatectomy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower positive surgical margins and reduce nerve injury, helping preserve continence and sexual function after prostatectomy.
How similar studies have gone: Fluorescence-guided surgery is already used clinically with a few FDA-approved dyes, but the specific combination of multichannel, simultaneous tumor-and-nerve visualization during prostatectomy is novel and still under development.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gibbs, Summer Lynne — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Gibbs, Summer Lynne
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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.