Project Grant R44CA217528

This Project Grant award from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), under the Oral Diseases and Disorders Research program (CFDA 93.121), provides $294,505 to support the development and commercialization of a targeted fluorescence dye for intraoperative imaging and precision surgical treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC). The goal is to create a small peptide-based fluorescent probe that can specifically stain HNC tumors to assist surgeons in identifying tumors...

This Project Grant award of $466,500.00 from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), under the Oral Diseases and Disorders Research program (CFDA 93.121), aims to develop near-infrared chemiluminescent and fluorescent (NIR CFL) chitosan-based nanoparticles (CNPs) to improve the detection of micrometastatic cancer and guide image-guided surgery. The nanoparticles can be activated by body heat and stored at low temperatures for convenience and safety. The research...

This $381,100 Project Grant award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Biomedical Research and Research Training Program (CFDA 93.859) supports the development and evaluation of tumor-targeting polymeric micelles carrying a near-infrared (NIR) imaging agent. The goal is to provide real-time optical image guidance during brain cancer surgery to improve tumor resection and surgical outcomes. The project aims to: 1) develop and characterize the tumor-targeting polymeric...

This federal Project Grant award of $567,340.00 from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), under the Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health program (CFDA 93.286), supports the development and validation of a wide-field fluorescence lifetime (FLT) imaging system for intraoperative visualization of sarcomas and other cancers. The award will enable the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, a non-profit hospital and...

The National Cancer Institute (CFDA 93.394 - Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research) awarded a $1,811,052 Project Grant to Manzanita Pharmaceuticals Inc. to complete IND-enabling studies for NerveLight, a novel nerve imaging agent for use during radical prostatectomies. The funding will support non-GLP dose-range finding studies in dogs, as well as GLP toxicology and safety pharmacology studies in rats and dogs, to confirm the safety of NerveLight. Upon successful completion of these...

This Project Grant award of $565,988 from the National Cancer Institute (CFDA 93.398 - Cancer Research Manpower) supports research to develop an intraoperative molecular imaging (IMI) agent called 111In-dinutuximab-IR800 for improved detection and resection of primary and metastatic osteosarcoma. The University of Pittsburgh is the prime awardee. The key objectives are to optimize the manufacturing, pharmacology, toxicology, and stability of 111In-dinutuximab-IR800, and evaluate its ability to...

This Project Grant award of $1,249,099 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Trans-NIH Research Support program (CFDA 93.310) supports the development of a new class of small, bright, tunable, and biocompatible near-infrared (NIR-II) fluorescent probes for deep tissue molecular imaging. The University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) will create a palette of DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters (AgN-DNA) that emit in the NIR-II tissue transparency window (1,000-1,700 nm). These new...

This federal Project Grant award of $374,095 from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), under the Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health program (CFDA 93.286), aims to develop a device that uses an infrared laser to enable local delivery of a high dose of chemotherapy to the surgical cavity after tumor resection. The technology employs thermosensitive liposomal nanoparticles encapsulating chemotherapy agents that...

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded a $400,000 Project Grant under CFDA 93.394 (Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research) to O2M Technologies LLC to develop a Multifunctional Imager (MFI) that can simultaneously acquire tissue oxygen pressure (pO2) and pH maps using electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI) techniques. The 12-month project aims to create a 25 MT Halbach-type permanent magnet, new multi-modal transmit-receive electronics, and the integrated MFI instrument. This...

This Project Grant award from the National Cancer Institute (CFDA 93.394 - Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research) provides $349,808 to Oncurie Inc. to continue development of a novel targeted radiopharmaceutical for imaging and potential therapy of ovarian cancer. The compound leverages the folate receptor overexpression in ovarian tumors to enable precision imaging, with future plans to incorporate cytotoxic radionuclides for targeted therapy. During the Phase I award period from Sep 2024...