Immune PET scanning to guide oncolytic herpes virus treatment for glioma
Utilization of Immuno-PET to detect response and guide novel oHSV-based therapy for glioma
This project uses immune PET scans to track T-cell activity and help guide oncolytic herpes virus treatment for people with glioblastoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11306681 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient viewpoint: researchers plan to use an oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) injected into tumors to kill cancer cells and stimulate immune responses. They will apply specialized immuno-PET scans to visualize when and where CD8 T cells activate and enter tumors over time in laboratory models of glioblastoma. By linking the imaging signals to immune cell behavior, the team aims to find better timing and combinations for virus therapy and other immunotherapies and to avoid confusing inflammation with true tumor growth. This work is being done in preclinical models at UAB to build evidence that could later inform patient imaging and treatment decisions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with glioblastoma who might be eligible for intratumoral oncolytic virus treatments or future trials using immuno-PET imaging are the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People with other types of brain disease, those ineligible for intratumoral virus therapy, or those who cannot undergo PET imaging may not benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could let doctors see immune responses earlier, improve timing of combined treatments, and reduce mistaken changes that look like tumor growth.
How similar studies have performed: Oncolytic HSV therapies have shown tumor-killing activity in laboratory and early clinical work and preliminary data suggest immuno-PET can image CD8 T-cell changes, but combining these methods in glioma is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sorace, Anna C — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Sorace, Anna C
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.