A University of New Mexico surgeon has helped develop and test a first-of-its-kind drug that binds to nerve tissue and fluoresces (emits light), enabling surgeons to better see the nerves they’re trying to work around.

A newly published study in Nature Communications reports that bevonescein—a short chain of amino acids attached to a fluorescing molecule—was safe to use and highlighted longer stretches of nerves than would be visible to the naked eye, improving the odds of operating without causing injury.

“The way that I explain this drug to patients is that I think if we can help surgeons see things better, they can do faster, more efficient, safer surgery,” said Ryan Orosco, MD, an associate professor and otolaryngologist (head and neck surgeon) in the UNM School of Medicine who co-authored the paper.