In honor of Sha Chang
The principles of carbon nanotubes have been known for a very long time. But how to use them for health benefits is just now gaining traction. At UNC, Dr. Sha Chang has figured out how to use tiny carbon nanotubes to deliver radiation therapy more precisely than every before. Along with UNC nanotechnology pioneer Dr. Otto Zhou, Dr. Chang has helped create a first 3D imaging technique ever that allows radiation oncologists to image patients during radiotherapy delivery to ensure precise targeting of radiation beams at tumors that are very close to vital organs without harming normal tissue.
The pursuit of such leading-edge research has come rather naturally to Dr. Chang.
“Some people like to sing; some like to write. I like to find solutions,” she says. “I like to think outside the box and develop original ideas and try to make them work. Doesn’t matter if it’s not popular or if it’s hard. If you believe that it will help patients and cancer research and cut costs, then just believe in yourself and just do it.”
The first beneficiaries of this new technology will be North Carolina patients.
“As a radiation therapy medical physicist, I just tried to find the unique applications of nanotechnology for my field. And that’s treating cancer patients.”