# Development of Fluorescent Probes for Highlighting Nerves During Image Guided Surgeries

> **NIH NIH R44** · ALUME BIOSCIENCES, INC. · 2020 · $1,347,839

## Abstract

Abstract
Fundamental goals of surgery are functional preservation and minimizing patient morbidity.
Inadvertent nerve injury during surgery is a major cause of post-surgical patient morbidity due to
the inability of surgeons to visualize nerves during surgery. Nerve injury during surgery can lead
to chronic pain, numbness, permanent paralysis incontinence or erectile dysfunction. Current
nerve identification during surgery utilizes non-quantifiable criteria such as anatomy, texture,
color, and relationship to surrounding structures to distinguish nerves from non-nerve tissues. In
instances of trauma, tumor invasion or infection, nerve identification using the above criteria can
be especially challenging. Using white light reflectance, which is the standard mode of illumination
in operating rooms, the visual difference between small nerves, such as distal branches of the
facial nerve important during surgery for salivary gland neoplasms, or cavernosal nerves
important during radical prostatectomy, and adjacent tissue can be imperceptible. There is an
unmet need to improve the intraoperative visualization of nerves to preserve nerve function and
minimize patient morbidity following surgery. There are currently no clinically approved agents to
enhance nerve contrast during surgery. In this proposal, we aim to complete a Phase 1/2 clinical
trial to test the safety and efficacy of a novel peptide dye conjugate (ALM-488) as an agent to aid
visualization of nerves during surgery. ALM-488 is a peptide dye conjugate that has been shown
to bind and highlight motor, sensory and autonomic nerves in-vivo. Alume anticipates that clinical
translation of ALM-488 could be transformative for intraoperative visualization of nerves to prevent
inadvertent injury during surgery thereby improving patient outcomes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10139533
- **Project number:** 2R44NS108827-02
- **Recipient organization:** ALUME BIOSCIENCES, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Brett J. Berman
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,347,839
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2019-04-15 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10139533

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10139533, Development of Fluorescent Probes for Highlighting Nerves During Image Guided Surgeries (2R44NS108827-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10139533. Licensed CC0.

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