Fast, ultra-detailed 3D pictures of tumors and nearby immune cells
Ultrahigh-throughput imaging of 3D tumor microenvironment at nanoscale
Building a fast 3D imaging method to reveal how lung tumors and immune cells interact, which could help people with lung cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Carnegie-Mellon University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310198 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project is creating a new way to take very large, nanoscale 3D pictures of tumor tissue so researchers can see cancer and immune cells in their true spatial context. The team combines a multiscale fluorescence mesoscope with a tissue-expansion technique and automated workflows to capture high-resolution volumes across large areas. They will optimize staining, specimen handling, and imaging using genetically engineered mouse models of lung cancer to map subcellular interactions during tumor development. Eventually this approach could be applied to human tumor samples to guide immunotherapy research and biomarker discovery.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with lung cancer who are willing to donate tumor tissue for research or who want to be considered for future trials using advanced spatial imaging methods would be the best match.
Not a fit: Patients without lung cancer or those expecting immediate treatment benefits should not expect direct clinical benefit from this preclinical imaging research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the technology could reveal how tumors evade immune attack and help design better immunotherapies for lung cancer patients.
How similar studies have performed: Related super-resolution and expansion microscopy methods have shown promise on small samples, but this integrated, high-throughput 3D approach is largely new and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- Carnegie-Mellon University — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhao, Yongxin — Carnegie-Mellon University
- Study coordinator: Zhao, Yongxin
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.