Associate Professor Jung-Jae Lee of the Department of Chemistry has been awarded a prestigious R03 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to push the boundaries of cancer research.
His project, “Development of Near-Infrared Photothermal Chemiluminescent Gold Nanoprobes by Utilizing Retro Diels-Alder Reaction of Trapped Singlet Oxygens,” focuses on creating next-generation nanoprobes that can function in oxygen-poor environments, like tumors. Traditional imaging techniques may struggle under these low-oxygen conditions, but Dr. Lee’s approach could offer a breakthrough.
By developing oxygen-independent, near-infrared nanoprobes, his work could allow doctors to better detect and monitor tumors during and after surgery. This innovation may lead to more precise surgical outcomes and, ultimately, more effective cancer treatments.