Many experiments are being conducted to find compounds that offer radioprotection against radiation damage and that are also non-toxic. It is hopeful that in the future, research for this technology will benefit patients undergoing cancer treatment by reducing radiation damage to normal cells and therefore reducing short and long term side effects experienced from treatments. Hamster cells were irradiated at doses of 60 and 120 rad, with and without Sphingosine-1-Phosphate mixed in with their growth medium. Post irradiation, it was observed that the S1P molecule seemed to have a radioprotective effect by decreasing the amount of cell death compared to the amount of cell death that occurred with the absence of the molecule. The results of this experiment will sent to Dr. Jon Tilly at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Tilly is currently researching S1P as a possible radioprotector. / Graduation date: 2003