This Project Grant award from the National Cancer Institute (CFDA 93.394 - Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research) provides $244,839 to the University of Virginia (UVA) to investigate the use of magnetic resonance imaging-guided focused ultrasound (MRGFUS) to potentiate adoptive cellular immunotherapy (CAR T-cell therapy) for treating an aggressive subtype of pediatric medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer.
The research aims to leverage the sono-immunomodulatory effects of MRGFUS to enhance the delivery and efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy in preclinical models of Group 3 medulloblastoma. The project will utilize advanced imaging techniques, flow cytometry, and spatial profiling to evaluate this novel therapeutic approach. Given the critical need for safer and more effective treatments for pediatric brain tumors, the findings from this 2-year project are expected to enable rapid clinical translation and extension to other pediatric brain cancer settings.