A graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry, Suri Bandyopadhyay, is one of seven University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students selected as 2024 Beckman Institute Graduate Fellows.

The Beckman Institute Graduate Fellows Program funds students conducting interdisciplinary research. Bandyopadhyay's interdisciplinary research focuses on photodynamic therapy and sonodynamic therapy, which are cancer treatment strategies that kill cancer cells by introducing inert agents to the tumor area and activating them with light or ultrasound. To monitor how well these treatments work, Bandyopadhyay will develop a new molecule which, when activated, emits a signal detectable by ultrasound. To do this, he'll incorporate a photodynamic therapy agent, NOxPorfin, previously developed in the lab where he is doing his research. Bandyopadhyay is collaborating with adviser Jefferson Chan, an associate professor of chemistry; and electrical and computer engineering professor Michael Oelze.

“It’s always exciting to see the diversity of research and how the graduate fellows have the opportunity to learn from each other,” said Cristina Álvarez Mingote, Beckman’s associate director for research. “They can see what other disciplines are working on, what challenges other areas of research face and how they can help each other by bringing different perspectives to address these challenges.”