Nigerian-Born Scientist Develops Goggles That Help Surgeons See Cancer Cells

Nigerian-Born Scientist Develops Goggles That Help Surgeons See Cancer Cells

Nigerian-born scientist Professor Samuel Achilefu has developed a cancer-imaging technology that allows surgeons to see cancerous cells during an operation, helping them identify tumour tissue that may otherwise be difficult to detect with the naked eye.

Achilefu and his research team at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis developed special wearable goggles that work with a molecular imaging agent. The agent causes cancer cells to fluoresce under near-infrared light, allowing surgeons to see the tumour in real time during surgery.

The technology was tested in breast cancer surgery through a clinical trial at Washington University. The system was designed to improve the visibility of cancer cells at the edges of tissue being removed, potentially helping surgeons determine whether cancerous tissue remains while reducing the unnecessary removal of healthy tissue.

Achilefu, who was born and raised in Nigeria, spent more than two decades at Washington University before joining UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas in 2022. He is now Professor and inaugural Chair of Biomedical Engineering at UT Southwestern.

He has been awarded more than 70 U.S. patents and is recognised internationally for his work in molecular imaging, cancer treatment and image-guided surgery. He is also a member of the U.S. National Academies of Medicine, Engineering and Inventors.

The innovation demonstrates how advanced imaging technology can give surgeons information that cannot be easily seen with the unaided eye, particularly during delicate cancer operations.

Nigerian-Born Scientist Develops Goggles That Help Surgeons See Cancer Cells