Last Updated on: 17th April 2025, 09:04 am
A research team led by Dr Daniel Chen from the University of Oxford, who also serves as Chief Scientist at Oxperial BioHealth, has announced a major breakthrough in cancer prevention using sunlight to activate the body’s natural defences.
The innovation, called Green Products Photodynamic Technology (GPDT), harnesses compounds derived from plants which become active when exposed to natural sunlight. Once activated, these compounds stimulate the body to respond at a cellular level, helping to detect and destroy abnormal or cancerous cells.
This pioneering technique has shown particular promise in targeting human brain cancer, and the findings have recently been published in the international journal Future Science OA.
Charging Cells Like Superman
Dubbed by the research team as a way to “charge cells like Superman,” GPDT works by harnessing chlorophyll derivatives and other bioactive plant compounds. When exposed to sunlight—specifically light within the 400–700nm wavelength range, these compounds activate a photodynamic effect that sparks a beneficial chain reaction in cells, inhibiting cancer cell growth and supporting cellular energy.
This cutting-edge technology has already been patented in the UK and Taiwan, with global patents pending.
A Fusion of Nature and Innovation
Dr. Chen was joined by fellow researcher from Oxperial BioHealth, Allison Huang, RPh, who explained how the technology strengthens the body’s innate energy systems and immunity. Co-authors Prof. Yao Kuan Chen and Dr. Jeff Liu emphasized the synergistic power of combining plant-based extracts with light activation, resulting in greater energy absorption and improved bioavailability, the key to reinforcing natural defenses. The team believes GPDT holds strong potential, not only as a functional food supplement for preventive health, but also as a future novel therapy for cancer prevention and immune modulation.
Bridging Science, Industry, and Public Health
At the launch event in Taipei, Dr. Chen showcased GPDT’s potential applications in cancer prevention and wellness. The event drew strong interest from leaders in Taiwan’s biotech and healthcare sectors, many of whom expressed intent to collaborate on bringing this innovation to the public.
“This is more than just a scientific discovery,” said Dr. Chen. “We’re showing that natural compounds, activated by something as simple as sunlight, can create powerful effects in the fight against cancer. It’s a leap forward in preventive medicine.”
