 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.

