Margaret Bennewitz

At West Virginia University, donor support is driving research that could transform how cancer is detected, helping deliver earlier, more accurate answers for patients across West Virginia and beyond.  

Margaret Bennewitz, associate professor of chemical and biomedical engineering at the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, leads multidisciplinary research that is advancing new approaches in biomedical imagining and nanotechnology.  

Her work focuses on addressing a critical challenge in medicine: improving early tumor detection. Current imaging methods can miss very small tumors or misidentify lumps as cancer, leading to uncertainty, additional testing and unnecessary stress for patients. In a state where access to care can be limited, those challenges can carry even greater weight.  

With the help of donor funding, Bennewitz and her team are working to deliver more accurate answers the first time.  

At the center of her research are nano-encapsulated manganese oxide (NEMO) particles, designed to enhance MRI imaging. Unlike traditional contrast agents that are always active, these particles activate only in the presence of cancer cells.  

“NEMO particles act like a light switch, and they light up the cancer like a Christmas tree,” Bennewitz said.  

This targeted approach could enable earlier detection, potentially reducing unnecessary follow-up procedures and improving patient outcomes. The technology also shows promise for use in detecting other types of cancer.  

Donor support plays a critical role in making this work possible.  

“To our donors, thank you so much,” Bennewitz said. “Your generosity is the spark that keeps us going. With donor funding, we’re able to acquire the crucial preliminary data we need to compete for and win multimillion-dollar federal grant proposals.”  

That investment not only supports essential equipment and research but also provides student fellowships and other resources needed to turn innovative ideas into real-world medical breakthroughs.  

As Bennewitz’s research continues to advance, the goal remains clear: earlier detection, greater accuracy and better outcomes for the community.