Our Researchers in Action

3D Genome Engineering to Target Brain Tumor Stem Cells
At the University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine (Calgary, AB Canada), a research team led by Marco Gallo, PhD, used cutting edge technology to unravel the specific DNA architecture of GBM cancer stem cells and identify potential new treatment approaches.

Novel Chimeric Oncolytic Virus for Brain Cancer Treatment
An ACGT-funded toxicity study helped John Bell, PhD, and David Stojdl, PhD, advance the identification and characterization of novel cancer-killing therapeutic viruses that selectively infect and kill glioblastoma brain cancer cells, while leaving healthy cells and tissues unharmed. The work brought them closer to the eventual clinical translation and commercialization of these potential therapies.

Development of an Oncolytic Virus with Prodrug-Activating Gene Therapy
To advance a novel strategy for engineering a virus to work in combination with a patient’s own immune system and the chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide (CPA), E. Antonio Chiocca, MD, PhD, completed important preclinical toxicity studies at The Ohio State University Research Foundation (Columbus, OH). His research determined the safety of this approach for fighting glioblastoma and generated the data necessary to apply to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for permission to launch a phase one clinical trial.

Development of a Novel Oncolytic Virus for Malignant Glioma
More than a decade ago, ACGT helped launch Maciej S. Lesniak, MD, onto an innovative research trajectory aimed at harnessing re-engineered cold virus to selectively infect and ultimately destroy cancer cells in the brain without harming other healthy cells.