Dr. James Olson discovers and develops promising new drugs for cancer patients, primarily children with brain cancer. He led the creation of “Tumor Paint,” an imaging agent derived from scorpion venom that illuminates cancer cells. Tumor Paint is designed to guide surgeons with precision as they identify and remove tumors with minimal damage to adjacent normal tissue.

Building on the success of Tumor Paint, Dr. Olson and his colleagues are now developing a new class of drugs called optides, short for “optimized peptides.” Unlike chemotherapies, which usually destroy healthy tissue alongside the cancerous cells they target, optides can zero in on cancer cells. Dr. Olson’s team is using naturally occurring molecules to engineer new optides that could fight many difficult-to-treat cancers, brain disorders and other diseases.

The promising work on optides is the focus of Project Violet. Named after one of Dr. Olson’s young patients, inspired by children with rare or incurable diseases and fueled by a community of supporters, Project Violet brings hope to families around the world.