Hasan Lab @ Mass General hospital

About us

The Hasan Laboratory, led by Tayyaba Hasan at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine, integrates photochemistry, nanotechnology, imaging, and biology to develop innovative strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Our research centers on photodynamic therapy (PDT) and related light-activated approaches that enable precise, spatiotemporal control of therapeutic effects. By combining optical technologies with targeted molecular design—including photoactivatable nanoparticles, small molecules, and antibody-based constructs. We engineer systems that selectively modulate tumor, stromal, and immune environments. These approaches allow us to overcome key challenges such as drug resistance, limited delivery, and tumor heterogeneity.
A defining strength of the lab is its bench-to-bedside philosophy. We develop mechanistic insights in preclinical models and translate them into clinically relevant, image-guided therapies. Our work spans cancer, infectious diseases, and immune modulation, with a strong emphasis on combination therapies, dosimetry, and real-time molecular imaging to optimize treatment outcomes.
We are a highly interdisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and clinicians working at the interface of optics, biology, and medicine. Beyond scientific discovery, the Hasan Lab is deeply committed to mentorship, training, and fostering diverse scientific talent, having guided hundreds of trainees who have gone on to lead impactful careers across academia, medicine, and industry.
Through innovation in photomedicine and collaborative research, our goal is to advance next-generation, precision therapies that improve patient outcomes and expand the frontiers of light-based medicine.