From curiosity to catalyst

David Soulsby doesn’t just teach Chemistry—he improves it by creating new reactions, or “tools,” that allow other scientists to make new molecules. His latest work, a metal-free magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent, could improve care for thousands of patients and potentially become University of Redlands’ first patent.

“Contrast agents are typically given to patients who have an MRI scan to help a doctor make better diagnoses and improved treatment options,” Soulsby said. “Unfortunately, all contrast agents contain gadolinium, a potentially toxic heavy metal that can be problematic or dangerous for certain patients. Developing safer alternatives that don't contain heavy metals remains a high priority so that all patients can get the best treatment.”

During a 2023 experiment, Soulsby discovered a new type of sugar produced through a previously unobserved or reported-on reaction. Working alongside undergraduate researcher Rowan Glover ’24, the duo expanded the reaction to work across multiple sugars and published the findings that year.

“Our hope is that this new tool in the chemical toolbox can be used by others to continue the development of important drugs that can help with disease control,” Soulsby said.

A chance meeting between Soulsby and his graduate school colleague, Dr. David Brook of San José State University (SJSU), brought Soulsby and Glover’s work into focus and opened the door to applying the reaction to a real-world need.

“Using the sugar work developed here at Redlands, with some work that Dave developed at SJSU, we were able to fuse them together to develop a non-toxic, heavy-metal-free contrast agent (sugar-based organic radical contrast agent (ORCA)), that could be a replacement for the gadolinium-based agents that are currently used,” Soulsby said.

The team filed a provisional patent in September 2024 and converted it to a full patent application one year later. Expecting approval between May and June this year, Soulsby remarked that it would become University of Redlands’ first patent. Upon approval, Soulsby will seek out licensing partners to “rent” the idea, working alongside them to advance the innovative work shared between the two institutions.

Throughout the project, undergraduate researchers like Glover have played a key role, further amplifying experiential learning and mentorship at Redlands. 

“As the capstone of our program, students bring all the experiences we have taught them in earlier courses and apply those skills to cutting-edge problems with real-world applications,” Soulsby said. “In a few instances, such as this one, the potential impacts of a project can be tremendous. Our students graduate with a powerful skill set that serves them well for graduate and professional schools, setting them up for successful careers.”