A team of scientists at Rice University in the United States has been awarded a $45 million grant to develop groundbreaking implant technology that aims to significantly reduce cancer-related deaths by more than 50 percent. Led by Rice University and comprised of researchers from seven different states, this initiative aims to expedite the development and assessment of an innovative cancer treatment therapy approach that has the potential to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy, especially for patients with challenging-to-treat tumors like ovarian, pancreatic, and other malignancies.
The grant will enable researchers to create a sense-and-respond implant technology that can continuously monitor a patient’s cancer and dynamically adjust their immunotherapy dosage in real-time. This approach aims to liberate patients from the constraints of being tethered to hospital beds, IV bags, and external monitors, offering a minimally invasive solution for personalized cancer treatment.
The concept of closed-loop therapy, previously used in diabetes management, is groundbreaking when applied to cancer immunotherapy. It involves maintaining constant communication between an insulin pump and a glucose monitor. In this case, the technology will continuously monitor the tumor’s response to treatment and adapt the immunotherapy regimen accordingly.
The interdisciplinary team behind this ambitious project includes experts from diverse fields such as synthetic biology, materials science, immunology, oncology, electrical engineering, artificial intelligence, and more. The collaborative initiative, named THOR (Targeted Hybrid Oncotherapeutic Regulation), has developed an implant known as HAMMR (Hybrid Advanced Molecular Manufacturing Regulator).
The core challenge addressed by THOR is the dynamic nature of cancer cells, which continuously evolve and adapt to therapies. Current diagnostic tools offer only infrequent and limited insights into this ever-changing process. THOR’s real-time data from the tumor environment has the potential to guide more effective and tumor-informed novel therapies, transforming the treatment paradigm for cancer.
The potential impact of this technology is broad, extending to peritoneal cancers affecting organs such as the pancreas, liver, lungs, and more. With the support of the $45 million grant, THOR’s innovative approach offers hope for improved cancer treatments, increased patient outcomes, and a significant reduction in cancer-related fatalities.
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