From fireflies to medical treatments: CU Denver’s Chemistry Nanomedicine Lab turns bright ideas into life saving solutions

Inside CU Denver’s Chemistry Department, a small lab is doing big work: developing a “Surgical GPS” to guide cancer removal, engineering a therapeutic contact lens to prevent blindness, and creating a rapid-diagnostic device to detect sepsis.   

Welcome to Professor Jung-Jae Lee’s Chemistry Lab, where students aren’t just studying chemistry—they’re turning research into medical solutions.  

“I like working on research where I can clearly see the application,” he said. “Otherwise, what is the point of the work? I think about how my research could potentially help patients - that’s what motivates me, and it motivates my students as well.”  

CU Denver Chem Lab a Thriving Hub for Medical Innovations  

Up to seven students can be found working in Lee’s lab at any given time. Some plan to become doctors—seven lab alumni have entered medical schools or doctoral programs. They collaborate with physicians at CU Anschutz and with hospitals in Boston. Their common goal? The desire to solve problems that will keep people healthy.  

Surgical GPS Detects Cancer for More Precise Removal  

It all started with a firefly. Lee was looking for a way to make cancer tumor removal more effective. Even with the best surgeons and most advanced technology, microscopic remnants of cancer cells can be missed, which can increase the likelihood of tumors returning.  

That’s when fireflies triggered the idea for Surgical GPS. Lee created nanoprobes that glow when they detect cancer cells. By training the nanoprobes to react to specific cancer biomarkers, the chemical reaction emits light, even in dense tissue. Paired with special goggles or a specialized camera system, the glowing nanoprobes help surgeons find and remove every last cancer cell. The concept showed so much promise that the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Wings of Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Research, and the Cancer League of Colorado recently awarded Lee and his team close to $1 million to advance this method. Lee has already secured a U.S. patent for the technique.  

"This is what happens behind the scenes,” said Minyoung Lee ‘20.  She works in the lab as she prepares to apply to pharmaceutical science graduate schools. “We work to give surgeons and doctors the tools they need to treat patients. I’ve always wanted to be part of that. That’s why I am going into pharmaceuticals. I want to develop the next generation of therapeutics, and the experience here has been invaluable. Professor Lee is an extraordinary mentor.”  

Early Intervention Can Prevent “Melting Eyes”  

Melting eyes, also known as corneal melting, is a rare but serious condition caused by infections, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK), direct eye trauma, or even certain ocular surgeries like LASIK, glaucoma, and cataract procedures. Early detection and quick medical attention are key. This condition is often seen on battlefields— where soldiers are exposed to chemical agents, flying debris from explosions, and penetrating eye injuries caused by shrapnel or blunt trauma—and can be devastating because advanced medical care is often hundreds of miles and several days away. 

Lee fabricated a therapeutic contact lens that delivers a biochemical solution to deactivate the enzymes responsible for corneal melting. Applied using a contact lens, the solution can halt progression for several days, buying time for patients to reach a specialist. This project is funded in part by the National Eye Institute at the National Institutes of Health. The technology is protected by a U.S. patent.  

For undergraduate student Ryan Ha, working alongside Professor Lee on the melting eyes and Surgical GPS research, has solidified his desire to become a medical doctor.  

“I’ve always wanted to help people, and I’ve always had this thirst to search for knowledge,” Ha said. “The practical experience in the lab has been wonderful and really addressed both my desires. While I’m studying for classes, I’ll come across something and I think ‘oh yeah, I saw that in the lab.’ The exposure in the lab has translated into all my courses and reinforces what I want to do. Help keep people healthy.”  

Faster Bacteria Detection for Sepsis Saves Lives  

Sepsis kills tens of thousands of Americans each year—eleventh leading cause in adults and 7th in infants—because identifying the infecting bacteria currently takes days, but it self-replicates every 30 minutes. People die from sepsis because the body is effectively poisoned by an infection that ultimately leads to organ failure. Only tiny fragments are found in each blood sample which makes collection a challenge. And then they must still be grown to properly identify the strand before a doctor can prescribe the right combination of antibiotics to treat the patient.   

In Lee’s approach, he fabricates magnetic nanoparticles that selectively bind to bacteria and are collected inside a medical device. By concentrating the bacteria this way, doctors can identify the pathogen within three hours.  

“For some patients, that could be the difference between life and death,” he said.  

Lee began the project as a postdoc, and its early stages were funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.  

A Researcher Committed to Training Future Medical Innovators  

Lee said he’s lucky because his academic experiences and mentor have helped him find a way to contribute to a healthy society through his love for chemistry, technology, and engineering.  

“I love conducting research that has an impact, and I love to teach,” he said. “This is why I’m here.”  

Students in Lee’s lab say their professor goes above and beyond to teach them the material, and to help prepare them for their meaningful careers.  

Selina Vong, ‘18, ‘21 thought she wanted to become a medical doctor when she enrolled at CU Denver. She discovered she preferred conducting research more than working directly with patients. It took her a little time to figure it out and that included an 18-month break from school. But Professor Lee never gave up on her.  

“Getting through school requires a good mentor,” Vong said. “As a first-generation student, it's even harder to figure things out. Professor Lee has helped me navigate and mentored me. That’s why I got my bachelor’s and master’s here and now I’m completing my PhD, with an eye toward a career in pharma. It’s good to have options and that’s thanks to Professor Lee.”  

Lee holds multiple degrees, including a PhD in organic chemistry and a master’s degree in inorganic chemistry. Before joining CU Denver in 2015 he worked as a postdoc at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of Notre Dame. He has more than 20 peer-reviewed publications, funding from various national and state organizations, is a member of multiple professional organizations, including the American Chemical Society, and serves as a journal referee for several publications.  

About the University of Colorado Denver 
Millions of moments start at CU Denver, a place where innovation, research, and learning meet in the heart of a global city. We’re the state’s premier public urban research university with more than 100 in-demand, top-ranked bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs. We partner with diverse learners—at any stage of their life and career—for transformative educational experiences. Across seven schools and colleges, our leading faculty inspires and works alongside students to solve complex challenges and produce impactful creative work. As part of the state’s largest university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with 2,000 employees and an annual economic impact of $665 million. To learn more about how CU Denver helps learners meet their moment, visit ucdenver.edu.