Katherine Ryman, PhD

University of Pittsburgh Center for Vaccine Research (Pittsburgh, PA)
Year Funded:
2003
Focus:
Prostate Cancer
Infecting prostate cancer cells with a killer virus.
Recently, the use of tumor-killing viruses has gained favor in cancer gene therapy in an approach that has become known as “virotherapy.” Virotherapy exploits viruses that are able to target and destroy cancer cells, while sparing the surrounding normal tissue. We are developing a virotherapy approach for the treatment of prostate cancer based on infection with Sindbis virus.
The ability of Sindbis virus to travel rapidly throughout the body in the bloodstream will improve access to metastasized cancer cells. We intend first to develop and test these agents in cultured cells. We will then test and optimize the ability of the virus to cure prostate cancer.
Academic Profile
Read profileKate D. Ryman, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
University of Pittsburgh
8036 Biomedical Science Tower 3
3501 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213