Milk-derived extracellular vesicles as a systemic radiotherapeutic and cancer adjuvant therapy
Official title: Industrial production of milk extracellular vesicles for dual-use as a systemic radiotherapeutic medical countermeasure and cancer adjuvant therapy
Funded at Tiny Cargo Company, the · NIH-11102389 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new milk-derived therapy loaded with a drug aims to help people exposed to high-dose radiation by healing the GI tract and bone marrow and could also support cancer treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tiny Cargo Company, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Roanoke, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $985,974 |
| NIH project number | 1U44TR004958-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11102389 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals at risk of high-dose radiation exposure or patients undergoing radiotherapy who could benefit from adjuvant therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage development means it may not benefit individuals without exposure to radiation or cancer treatment contexts at this time.
What this research studies
This project centers on producing and testing milk-derived extracellular vesicles loaded with a therapeutic drug to promote healing after dangerous radiation exposure. It outlines development and regulatory steps to use XoLacta under the Animal Rule, with aims that include a radioprotective countermeasure and a potential cancer therapy adjuvant. The research will explore industrial purification, loading methods, non-cold storage, targeting, and oral delivery of these vesicles. The work envisions supply to national stockpiles and partnerships with regulatory bodies to bring this treatment to people in need. It also highlights a broader platform approach for delivering other therapeutics via milk-derived vesicles.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this therapy could improve survival and recovery after radiation exposure and potentially enhance cancer radiotherapy outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work with extracellular vesicles suggests feasibility, but this approach is novel in using milk-derived vesicles for systemic radiotherapy and adjuvant therapy.
Where this research is happening
-
Tiny Cargo Company, the
Roanoke, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marsh, Spencer Reid — Tiny Cargo Company, the
- Study coordinator: Marsh, Spencer Reid
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
XoLacta adjuvant therapy to reduce radiation side effects during HER2-positive breast cancer treatment
A new milk-derived therapy called XoLacta aims to lessen radiation-related side effects for people undergoing treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer.
-
Navigation-based care pathway to speed adjuvant therapy for head and neck cancer
A practical program tests a navigation-driven approach to help patients with head and neck cancer start postoperative radiation on time, aiming to improve survival.
-
AI that combines scans, pathology slides, and records to guide post-surgery treatment for colorectal cancer
This project uses artificial intelligence to combine CT/MRI scans, pathology slides, and medical records to help doctors decide which people with stage I–III colorectal cancer should get additional treatment after surgery.
-
XoLacta to reduce radiation side effects in HER2-positive breast cancer
XoLacta, a milk-derived therapy given during radiation, aims to help people with HER2-positive breast cancer heal better and have fewer side effects.
-
Urothelial resurfacing with targeted electric pulses for bladder cancer
A new treatment approach uses a pulse-based ablation to remove cancerous tissue in the bladder and help intravesical therapies work better for bladder cancer patients.
-
Helping people with head and neck cancer start post-surgery radiation on time
This project uses a patient navigation program to help people with head and neck cancer begin their recommended post-surgery radiation within six weeks of surgery.
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.