Novel Methods for Imaging PET Biomarkers and Gene Therapy of Cancer
Abstract
Cancer mortality in the USA ranks Tennessee number 43 in incidence and 5th in the nation in mortality both numbers suggesting much work to be done. Altogether, there are over 660,000 citizens with active military or veteran status in our state constituting over 15% of the general population. Therefore, the poor cancer mortality statistics negatively affects not only the state's general population but also military and veteran families living in the state. A self-evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of our state-wide University of Tennessee Cancer Institute programs revealed two major weaknesses impairing progress toward advancing translational research into the detection and treatment of cancer patients in Tennessee. Both are deficiencies in infrastructure: the first, is the lack of a core diagnostic and prognostic imaging facility and the second, is the lack of a core facility for investigational and therapeutic viral vector production and development. Congress agreed with our self analysis and recognized deficiencies in cancer research infrastructure in our state with its impact on the poor mortality ranking and earmarked funds to bolster our abilities to fight cancer through research into state-of-the-art cancer diagnostics and experimental therapies. In line with the congressional mandate, here we propose to set up two core facilities at the University of Tennessee Cancer Institute: one for the generation of PET biomarkers using microfluidic chemistry and validate their effectiveness for PET/CT-based monitoring of conventional and novel anticancer therapy in animal models and non-small cell lung cancer patients at UT Knoxville; the other a viral vector core for the generation of investigational tools for anticancer therapies at UT Health Science Center Memphis. These cores will work in highly coordinated interactive manner on three interlinked projects.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA486686
Entities
People
- Gabor Tigyi
Organizations
- University of Tennessee