Using ultrasound to track immune cells in cancer treatment
Official title: Phase Changing Ultrasound Contrast Agents for Deep Tissue Imaging of Cellular Immunotherapies
Funded at Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-10854083 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at new tiny ultrasound agents that help us see how immune cells move in cancer treatments, which could lead to better and more personalized care for patients.
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 start | September 10, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $490,381 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA289553-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10854083 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing adoptive cellular immunotherapy for cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving adoptive cellular immunotherapy or those with conditions unrelated to cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing advanced ultrasound contrast agents to monitor the movement of immune cells used in cancer therapies. By creating nano-scale contrast agents that can be tracked in real-time, the study aims to improve our understanding of how these immune cells migrate to tumors and lymph tissues. This information could help tailor treatment plans and enhance patient outcomes by providing insights into the effectiveness of therapies and potential side effects. The approach utilizes innovative phase-changing peptide nanoemulsions that can be visualized without harming the immune cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and personalized cancer treatments by allowing for better monitoring of immune cell behavior.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using imaging techniques to monitor cellular therapies, indicating that this approach could be a significant advancement in the field.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State University, the
University Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Medina, Scott Hammond — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Medina, Scott Hammond
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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.