NOVEMBER 21 • 2019 | 33
Professionals at MSU Hillel are working
to build a diverse and welcoming
community for thousands of Jewish
students, helping them develop
leadership skills that will enable them to
make an impact on Jewish communities
after they graduate.
With support from several private family
foundations in southeast Michigan, MSU
Hillel is deepening its commitment to
Jewish leadership and learning by
increasing training opportunities for
future Jewish leaders. In addition to
retaining top-tier professional talent to
mentor and guide students, the Jewish
Leadership and Learning Initiative
focuses on training and empowering
emerging leaders with the skills, tools
and opportunities to strengthen Jewish
campus life in their communities.
Previously, leadership and educational
programming by MSU Hillel existed as
separate efforts, but the new initiative will
change the trajectory of MSU Hillel’
s
programming by fully integrating leadership
opportunities and Jewish education.
“We can provide retreats, internships, multi-
week learning fellowships and other
leadership training in ways that all students
benefit,” says Nate Strauss, director of Jewish
student life at MSU Hillel.
The objective is to educate Jewish students
and prepare emerging leaders to build and
nurture communities during their time on
campus and after graduation.
“We want to expand learning opportunities
while empowering emerging leaders,” says
Strauss. “Through the Jewish Leadership and
Learning Initiative, our goal is twofold:
provide student leaders with tools to test and
grow their leadership skills, while also
enhancing Jewish education through
meaningful active learning opportunities.” e
While the cancer applications hold the most
possibility, their findings have potential
beyond the field of oncology, says Richard,
the Johansen Crosby Endowed Professor of
chemical engineering and materials science.
“This work has the potential to transform
fluorescent probes for broad societal impact
through applications ranging from
biomedicine to photocatalysis — the
acceleration of chemical reactions with light,”
he says. “Our solar research inspired this
cancer project, and in turn, focusing on
cancer cells has advanced our solar cell
research; it’
s been an amazing feedback loop.”
Prior to the Lunts’
combined effort,
fluorescent dyes used for therapeutics and
diagnostics, aka “theranostics,” had
shortcomings, such as low brightness, high
toxicity to cells, poor tissue penetration and
unwanted side effects.
By optoelectronically tuning organic salt
nanoparticles used as theranostics, the Lunts
were able to control them in a range of
cancer studies. Coaxing the nanoparticles
into the nontoxic zone resulted in enhanced
imaging, while pushing them into the
phototoxic — or light-activated — range
produced effective on-site tumor treatment.
Sophia had long studied metabolic pathways
unique to cancer cells. It was when the Lunts
were discussing solar glass during a walk that
they made the connection: Molecules active
in the solar cells might also be used to more
effectively target and kill cancer cells.
The results were worth the hike. Today,
Richard designs the molecules, MSU
chemist Babak Borhan synthesizes and
improves them and Sophia tests their
photoactive inventions in cancer cell lines
and mouse models.
The Lunts have applied for a patent for
their work, and they’
re looking forward
to eventually pushing their findings
through clinical trials. e
Can solar tech kill
cancer cells?
Scientific breakthroughs don’
t always
happen in labs. For Michigan State University
researchers Sophia and Richard Lunt, many
of their breakthroughs happen during
neighborhood walks.
The married couple’
s step-by-step approach
has revealed — for the first time — a new
way to detect and attack cancer cells using
technology traditionally reserved for solar
power. The results, published recently in
Scientific Reports, showcase dramatic
improvements in light-activated fluorescent
dyes for disease diagnosis, image-guided
surgery and site-specific tumor treatment.
“We’
ve tested this concept in breast, lung
cancer and skin cancer cell lines and mouse
models, and so far it’
s all looking remarkably
promising,” says Sophia, MSU biochemistry
and molecular biologist.
MSU Hillel deepens leadership and
learning opportunities for students
Members of the Jewish Student Union
gathered at Tamarack Camps for their fall
leadership retreat, which focused on
bonding, leadership development and
community building.