Personalized implantable device to find the best treatment for head and neck cancer
Development and optimization of highly effective treatments in patients with head and neck cancer using in situ implantable microdevices
This project uses a tiny implantable device placed into head and neck tumors to try many treatments locally and help doctors pick the best therapy for each patient.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11247926 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, doctors would place a tiny implantable microdevice into your head or neck tumor that releases small, separate doses of many different drugs into different spots of the tumor. The team then removes tissue from each treated spot and examines cell death, immune response, and gene activity with lab tests and staining. Those local readouts show which drugs appear to work on your tumor and help identify markers that predict response or resistance. The technology has already moved from animal testing into early human use at several centers, and this project aims to optimize the device and analysis methods for safer, more reliable predictions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with head and neck cancers whose tumors can be safely accessed for device placement and tissue sampling at a participating hospital are the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People whose tumors are too hard to reach, who are medically unfit for the additional procedure, or who decline tissue sampling may not be able to participate or benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help doctors choose more effective treatments for your tumor while avoiding ineffective drugs and their side effects.
How similar studies have performed: Early clinical reports in glioblastoma and breast cancer suggest the implantable device can predict treatment response, but larger validation studies are still needed.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jonas, Oliver — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Jonas, Oliver
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.