Using Light to Activate Cancer Drugs

By Michelle Fiscus, Senior VP & Chief Communications Officer

Cancer treatment has saved millions of lives—but for many patients, the side effects of chemotherapy can be just as life-changing as the disease itself.

At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NCInnovation-funded researcher Dr. Brianna Vickerman is developing a new approach that could change that. Her technology uses light to activate powerful cancer drugs only where they're needed, helping target tumors while reducing damage to healthy tissue.

In the video above, Dr. Vickerman shares the moment that sparked the idea, the science behind her light-activated drug delivery platform and how NCInnovation is helping move the technology from the laboratory toward real-world patient impact.

Because the future of cancer treatment may not require a new drug—it may require a smarter way to deliver one.