Bringing whole-organ dosing down to tiny tissues for alpha-particle cancer therapy
Macro-to-micro (M2µ) Activity Apportionment for αRPT
This project aims to make more accurate, personalized dose maps for people getting alpha-particle radiation treatments for cancers that have spread to bone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180184 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will measure how alpha-particle drugs concentrate in whole organs and in specific small regions using mouse models, then build charts that show how activity is apportioned within organs. They will use those apportionment factors to guide translation to human dosing models and to improve patient-level dosimetry for alpha-emitter radiopharmaceuticals. The work focuses on organs at risk such as bone marrow, kidneys, and salivary glands that can show unexpected toxicities with current methods. The goal is a methodological framework that clinicians could use to better tailor fractionated doses to each patient.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers that have spread to bone or who are being considered for alpha-emitter radiopharmaceutical therapy would be the main beneficiaries or candidates for related clinical work.
Not a fit: Patients who are not receiving alpha-emitter radiopharmaceuticals or whose treatment does not expose key organs like bone marrow, kidneys, or salivary glands are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let doctors tailor alpha-particle radiopharmaceutical doses to each patient to reduce unexpected organ toxicity and improve safety.
How similar studies have performed: Alpha therapies such as radium-223 (Xofigo) are already used in patients, but personalized micro-scale dosimetry for alpha emitters is largely novel and not yet widely validated.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hobbs, Robert Francois — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Hobbs, Robert Francois
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.