Home Department: Undeclared
Mentor: Kavita Sarin (Dermatology)

"KLEAR-PDT: Enhancing Blue-Light Photodynamic Therapy for Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer via Reversible Skin Optical Clearing"

For over a century, surgery (including excision and Mohs micrographic surgery) has remained the standard of care treatment for keratinocyte cancer, often causing scarring and complications, especially in older patients. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a noninvasive alternative, although its effectiveness is limited because blue light does not penetrate deeply enough to reach invasive tumors. This project aims to expand PDT usage by introducing a topical and reversible skin-clearing agent that temporarily increases skin transparency, allowing therapeutic blue light to penetrate 2-5x deeper. In overcoming this barrier, PDT efficacy is extended, thus expanding access to safe, nonsurgical treatments for keratinocyte cancers.