The National Institutes of Health has awarded nearly a half-million dollars to two University of Dayton researchers exploring strategies for the detection and potential treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.
The project led by Shawn Swavey, professor of chemistry, and Kristen Krupa, chair of UD's department of chemical and materials engineering, will focus on developing fluorescent imaging tools to better understand how stress inside cancer cells can be used to detect and potentially destroy tumors.
By targeting a part of the cell called the endoplasmic reticulum, the researchers aim to create probes that can monitor cancer cell activity and deliver therapies directly where they may be most effective.
The duo will test a family of compounds that can be adapted to act as real-time sensors of cancer cell stress, carrying chemotherapy drugs directly to tumor cells and serving as light-activated agents that trigger cancer cell death. The three-pronged approach could lead to new strategies for diagnosing and treating non-small cell lung cancer.
In 2025, an estimated 226,650 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. and 124,730 people will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2025. Most lung cancers, 87%, are classified as non-small cell lung cancer. Lung and bronchus cancer is responsible for the most deaths
“This work has the potential to open new doors in how we detect and treat lung cancer,” said Swavey, who has expertise in the creation and evaluation of organic compounds for medical therapeutics. “By designing molecules that can identify and attack cancer cells, we hope to create tools that can be adapted for future therapies.”
Krupa, who researches how materials, especially nanomaterials, interact with the body, including how they influence inflammation; said the project also will provide opportunities for students to engage in cutting-edge cancer research.
This grant will include four undergraduate students per year assisting with the creation of these probes as well as testing their effectiveness in lung cancer cells.
“Our goal is not only to advance science but also to train the next generation of researchers who will continue this important work,” she said.
The project's abstract can be found here; for more information on the project, email Swavey at sswavey1@udayton.edu or Krupa at kkrupa1@udayton.edu.
For interviews, contact Shawn Robinson, associate director of news and communications, at 937-229-3391 or srobinson1@udayton.edu.