About — RadioLite Therapeutics

Our origin

RadioLite Therapeutics was born from a simple but powerful observation: radiotherapy is already delivered with millimeter precision to tumors, but its therapeutic effect is limited by the tolerance of surrounding healthy tissue. What if we could amplify the radiation dose specifically at the tumor, without increasing the dose to healthy tissue?

This question led Dr. Deepak Dinakaran, then a postdoctoral fellow at Sunnybrook Research Institute, to develop a new class of nanoparticles that convert ionizing radiation into a localized therapeutic effect. The technology bridges two well-established fields — radiation oncology and photodynamic therapy — in a way that had never been done before.

The Radiophotonics Lab was founded in 2023 at Sunnybrook Research Institute to advance this research. The lab integrates nanotechnology, radiation oncology, photochemistry, and molecular biology to develop next-generation cancer therapies with improved precision and reduced systemic toxicity.

RadioLite Therapeutics Inc. was incorporated in 2024 and is now commercializing this platform with the support of leading Canadian research institutions, government funding agencies, and a growing network of scientific collaborators.

Leadership team

Built by the people who invented it. Deep expertise in oncology, radiotherapy, and commercialization.

Dr. Deepak Dinakaran

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

MD PhD — Radiation oncologist at Sunnybrook, and inventor of the RadioPDT technology. PhD in Medical Biophysics from the University of Toronto. Published in leading journals including ACS Nano and Frontiers in Bioengineering, with 4 patent families covering the platform.

Lab Website ResearchGate

Julian Forman

Chief Operating Officer

JD — Intellectual property lawyer. Business development and operations. Drives strategic partnerships, IP portfolio management, and corporate operations for RadioLite Therapeutics.

Dr. John Mackey

Chief Medical Officer

MD — Medical oncologist. Clinical development and regulatory experience. Leads clinical strategy, trial design, and regulatory pathways to bring RadioPDT from preclinical studies to first-in-human trials.

Hima Makala

R&D Director

PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences with extensive experience in nanoparticle formulation, drug delivery systems, and translational research. Leads the development and optimization of RadioLite's nanoparticle platform from bench to preclinical stages.

Sheryl Thingvold

Vice President of Marketing

MBA with a background in life sciences marketing and strategic communications. Drives brand strategy, investor relations, and market positioning for RadioLite Therapeutics as the company advances toward clinical trials.

Institutional affiliations

Our research is grounded in two of Canada's leading institutions for cancer research and medical innovation.

University of Toronto

Canada's top-ranked university and a global leader in medical research. The Department of Medical Biophysics provides world-class training and infrastructure for translational research. Dr. Dinakaran completed his PhD here, and the lab maintains active collaborations with the department.

Sunnybrook Research Institute

One of Canada's largest hospital-based research institutes, with particular strength in radiation oncology, medical imaging, and neuroscience. Home to the Odette Cancer Centre, one of the country's premier cancer treatment facilities. The Radiophotonics Lab was founded here in 2023.

Company milestones

Key moments on our journey from lab to clinic.

2019

Core Discovery

Dr. Dinakaran demonstrates radiation-activated nanoparticle concept in vitro during PhD research at U of T. Published foundational work in ACS Nano.

2022

First Patents

Initial patent applications filed covering composition of matter and methods of use for radiation-activated nanoparticles. Platform patent with 2018 priority date.

2023

Radiophotonics Lab

The Radiophotonics Lab is founded at Sunnybrook Research Institute by Dr. Dinakaran. Team expands to include postdocs, technicians, and students.

2025

Company Founded

RadioLite Therapeutics Inc. incorporated to commercialize the technology. 4 patents submitted. Strong preclinical evidence established. In vivo data demonstrates 2x tumour control and survival improvement.

About RadioLite