News & Gallery

NOVA Lab Meeting and Lunch! 🍽️

After our lab meeting, we gathered for lunch and enjoyed some relaxed time together. These moments outside the formal setting always remind us that great science grows from strong teamwork and open conversation.

It was also wonderful to be joined by Prof. Ashok Khatri from the Peptide Core. Grateful for this supportive team and the collaborative spirit that keeps NOVA Lab moving forward.

Recognition from AI-ACE InnoCORE (GIST)

I am truly grateful to receive this commemorative plaque from the AI-ACE InnoCORE program at GIST, led by Prof. Eunji Lee.

It is a privilege to serve as a Global Mentor for an initiative dedicated to advancing AI-nano convergence for the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases.

NOVA Lab meeting moment!

One of those moments when Dmitriy is deep into an explanation and everyone is trying to keep up 😄 Always great discussions and sharp insights! 

Seminars in Vascular Biology

NOVA Lab attended the Seminars in Vascular Biology at Boston Children’s Hospital, featuring a talk by Dr. Matthias Nahrendorf, Director of the Center for Inflammation Imaging at MGH. His lecture, “Leukocytes and Cardiovascular Health,” provided valuable insights into the role of immune cells in cardiovascular disease.

It was also a pleasure to learn about the history and legacy of the Folkman Auditorium, with helpful context shared by Satoshi, making the experience even more meaningful.

Happy New Year!

In 2025, NOVA LAB refined its scientific identity by integrating nanomedicine, fluorescence imaging, and photobiomodulation into a cohesive translational vision. We strengthened our research infrastructure, establishing streamlined systems that support sustainable growth. Throughout a year of collaboration and transition, we remained firmly committed to research integrity, transparency, and rigor, while deepening partnerships across MGH, HMS, and global collaborators and reinforcing mentorship and team cohesion.

With clarity and purpose, we look ahead to the year to come. 

(ChatGPT created the accompanying image as a visual reflection of NOVA LAB’s journey through 2025)

NOVA LAB Year-End Lunch

We had a great time wrapping up the year at NOVA Lab! Delicious food, great conversations, and wonderful moments with the team. We’re truly grateful for this amazing group and excited for what the new year will bring. Happy holidays, everyone! 🎉✨

2025 Aging & Immunity Workshop

NOVA Lab recently participated in the 2025 Aging and Immunity Workshop hosted by The Gene Lay Institute to engage with the latest advancements in age-related immune decline. We are excited to announce the expansion of our research focus into aging and neurodegenerative diseases, aiming to apply our nanoplatform technologies to combat conditions such as dementia.

Samsung Global Research Visited NOVA Lab

NOVA Lab had the opportunity to help a Boston forum involving executive-level leadership from Samsung Global Research.

We were also pleased to welcome Team Leader Chankoo Kang to NOVA Lab for discussions on future collaboration and innovation opportunities. It was a productive visit, and we look forward to continued engagement and joint exploration at the interface of biomedical imaging and advanced technologies.

Prof. Woo-Jae Chung from Sungkyunkwan University joined us for dinner, bringing together members of the Organic Synthesis Lab at SNU (Prof. Yoon-Sik Lee) for a wonderful reunion in Boston.

First Year of NOVA Lab!

We recently celebrated the first anniversary of the NOVA Lab with a wonderful dinner together. Over the past year, we’ve built a strong foundation in photonic nanomedicine and translational research, thanks to the dedication of an incredible team. Excited for what’s ahead in year two!

i3 SYMPOSIUM 2025, Frontiers in Cardiovascular Imaging: Innovations, Insights and Impact

All NOVA Lab members, Satoshi, Homan, Dmitriy, and Shinya, were delighted to attend the i3 Symposium, which was hosted through a collaborative effort among i3, the MGB Center for Inflammation Imaging, the Department of Radiology, and the HVI. The symposium was organized by center leadership, including Drs. Matthias Nahrendorf, Peter Libby, and John Chen, and joined by institutional leaders such as Drs. James Brink and Bruce Rosen.

It was an inspiring event that highlighted emerging innovations, imaging technologies, and collaborative research shaping the future of cardiovascular inflammation imaging.

Profs. Tae Kim and Jae Gwan Kim (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, GIST) Visited NOVA Lab!

We were delighted to host Professors Tae Kim and Jae Gwan Kim from GIST at NOVA Lab. We had a wonderful lunch and an engaging discussion about our future collaborations with Tae, Jae, and Young (from Martinos Center), exploring exciting opportunities for joint research.

Prof. Ki Tae Nam (Seoul National University) visited NOVA Lab for the second time!

We had another inspiring discussion on advancing innovative bioapplications of chiral nanomaterials, including wound healing and novel strategies for brain health.

📖 Selected works by Prof. Nam: 

Nature 556, 360-365 (2018). [link]

Nature 612, 470-476 (2022). [link]

Nature Materials 23, 977-983 (2024). [link] 

Science 389,1031-1036 (2025). [link]

Nanophilia Visited Us

We had a great time hosting Min-Suk Kim (CEO, Nanophilia) and Dr. Sinyoung Jeong (Intek Scientific) at NOVA Lab. Exciting discussions on plasmonic nanoplatforms for the detection of Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers and future collaboration opportunities!

Visit from Dr. Kouji Banno, MD, PhD – Hiroshima University Hospital

We were pleased to welcome Dr. Kouji Banno and his fellow from Hiroshima University Hospital to the NOVA Lab. The visit focused on exploring potential collaborations in ovarian cancer targeting and therapy, as well as opportunities for exchange of fellows between our institutions.

Hanmi Fine Chemical Visited NOVA Lab and Peptide Core (Director: Prof. Ashok Khatri)

We had a wonderful meeting with Hanmi Fine Chemical and Ashok, discussing future opportunities for collaboration on GLP-1 peptide research. Excited about the potential ahead! 

Visit from Dr. Makoto Suematsu, MD, PhD 

We were honored to host Dr. Makoto Suematsu, Director of the Central Institute for Experimental Medicine and Life Science at Keio University, at the NOVA Lab. During the visit, we discussed the application of NIR-II fluorescence imaging in large animal models of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, an approach that provides insights more directly translatable to humans.

Seoul National University Department of Pharmacy visited NOVA Lab

We were delighted to welcome students from the College of Pharmacy at Seoul National University, visiting through the Miraero Global Fellowship program. The group explored our research environment, engaged in cross-cultural exchange, and gained first-hand exposure to innovation shaping the future of healthcare here in Boston.