Ultrasound markers to track immune cell therapies deep inside the body
Phase Changing Ultrasound Contrast Agents for Deep Tissue Imaging of Cellular Immunotherapies
This project tests tiny ultrasound-friendly particles that let doctors watch engineered immune cells, like CAR-macrophages, move through tumors and organs in people getting cellular immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11190855 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you receive an engineered immune cell therapy, researchers aim to give those cells a tiny, safe label that shows up on standard ultrasound so clinicians can see where the cells travel over days. The team designs phase-changing peptide nanoemulsions (NPeps) that are taken up by macrophages and can be triggered to form tiny bubbles that are bright on B-mode and Doppler ultrasound. The method is meant to work in deep tissues and provide continuous, high-resolution images without harming the cells. By tracking cell movement and accumulation in tumors and lymph nodes, doctors could better understand why treatments work or cause side effects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people receiving or planning to receive adoptive cellular immunotherapy for cancer, especially those enrolled at or able to visit the research site and willing to have additional ultrasound imaging.
Not a fit: People not receiving cellular immunotherapy or whose treatment cells cannot be labeled with the nanoemulsion would likely not benefit from this imaging approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors personalize cell-therapy dosing, detect off-target cell movement earlier, and spot potential toxicities sooner.
How similar studies have performed: Early laboratory and animal studies reported by the team show promising ability to label and image macrophages with these nanoemulsions, but translating this exact approach into routine clinical use is still new.
Where this research is happening
University Park, United States
- Pennsylvania State University, the — University Park, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Medina, Scott Hammond — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Medina, Scott Hammond
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.