Porphysomes are liposome-like nanoparticles self-assembled from a single porphyrin-lipid building block, which enables their inherent multifunction of photothermal, photoacoustic, photodynamic, fluorescence, MRI, PET, SPECT, and radionucleotide therapy. Since its discovery, we have demonstrated porphysome’s high tumor selectivity and multimodal theranostic utilities in diverse tumor models and animal species. We have completed GMP manufacturing, GLP safety studies and clinical trial protocols for its first-in-human use, aka ‘beyond lab’. We have also developed a suite of next generation porphysomes that greatly broadened its theranostic applications from light to sound to radiation. These allow us to pursue new directions of ‘beyond light’ and ‘beyond cancer’.