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Light-Responsive Inorganic Compounds for Diagnosis and Therapy

NCI - National Cancer Institute

open
OpenLast verified: 2026-06-18

About This Grant

Surgery, alone or in combination with other therapies, is a cornerstone of cancer treatment. However, incomplete resection leads to increased risk of recurrence and reduced overall survival. Here optical image guided surgery (IGS) has a role to play by enhancing tumor visualization and improving surgical precision. It has notable advantages over visual inspection and histology aided by real-time CT, MRI, or optical scanners alone, but could be improved with new optical imaging agents. IGS could benefit from imaging agents that luminesce brightly in the wavelength region where tissue is most transparent. Further, IGS agents that also exert potent antitumor effects would enable simultaneous detection and treatment of disseminated cancer cells that cannot be removed due to their location around critical organ structures. This project will design osmium compounds that are highly luminescent at wavelengths where tissue is the most transparent. The optical agents will be inert and nontoxic, but phototoxic toward cancer cells through complementary modes of action, regardless of oxygenation status. The multidisciplinary strategy is based on the unique photophysical properties of certain immunostimulatory osmium compounds, with specialized ligands, that can be independently tuned for near-infrared luminescence output and phototherapy with minimal impact by oxygen. The molecular properties of these inorganic compounds can be further augmented by encapsulation in supramolecular structures such as nanolipid carriers. The project scope is to synthesize and characterize new compounds, determine their molecular properties, interrogate their photophysical and cellular mechanisms of action, and evaluate their utility as multifunctional optical imaging agents with therapeutic capacity. These activities will expose undergraduate students to multidisciplinary research and create new knowledge regarding optical imaging agents that addresses current challenges that have so far prevented IGS from being effectively used for hard-to-resect cancers. This project will also strengthen the research environment at UTA by enabling long-term sustainable biomedical research and inspiring a new generation of students to pursue innovative solutions to critical human health challenges.

Grant Summary

Light-Responsive Inorganic Compounds for Diagnosis and Therapy is a NCI - National Cancer Institute grant providing up to $566K for university, nonprofit, healthcare org. Applications are due 2029-05-31 (open). Check eligibility and apply with FindGrants.

Focus Areas

health research

Eligibility

universitynonprofithealthcare org

How to Apply

Funding Range

Up to $566K

Deadline

2029-05-31

Complexity
Medium
  1. 1Confirm your organization is eligible for Light-Responsive Inorganic Compounds for Diagnosis and Therapy from NCI - National Cancer Institute, checking organization type, location, and any population or project requirements.
  2. 2Gather the required documents and information, including your organization details, project plan, and budget figures.
  3. 3Draft your application narrative and budget addressing the funder's priorities and review criteria. FindGrants can draft each section for you to review and edit.
  4. 4Review every section against the requirements checklist, then export a submission-ready application pack and submit it to NCI - National Cancer Institute before the deadline.
This record is a past award, contract, or funder profile — useful for research, but not an open grant application. Check the original source for current opportunities from this funder.

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Light-Responsive Inorganic Compounds for Diagnosis and Therapy: Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the Light-Responsive Inorganic Compounds for Diagnosis and Therapy?

Light-Responsive Inorganic Compounds for Diagnosis and Therapy is offered by NCI - National Cancer Institute and is generally open to university, nonprofit, healthcare org. It is open to organizations nationwide unless the funder specifies otherwise. Review the specific eligibility terms before applying, since funders set their own requirements around organization type, location, and the population or project being served.

How much funding does the Light-Responsive Inorganic Compounds for Diagnosis and Therapy provide?

Light-Responsive Inorganic Compounds for Diagnosis and Therapy provides up to $566K per award from NCI - National Cancer Institute. Actual award sizes depend on the scope of your project, available program funds, and the number of applicants, so build a budget that reflects realistic, allowable costs rather than the maximum figure.

When is the Light-Responsive Inorganic Compounds for Diagnosis and Therapy deadline?

Applications for Light-Responsive Inorganic Compounds for Diagnosis and Therapy are due 2029-05-31 (open). Because deadlines can change, verify the date with the funder, NCI - National Cancer Institute, and give yourself enough time to prepare a complete, competitive application before the close date.

How do you apply for the Light-Responsive Inorganic Compounds for Diagnosis and Therapy?

To apply for Light-Responsive Inorganic Compounds for Diagnosis and Therapy, confirm your eligibility, gather the required documents, and prepare a narrative and budget that address the funder's priorities. FindGrants guides you step by step and can draft each section, then exports a submission-ready application pack for this grant from NCI - National Cancer Institute.

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