The Denver chapter of Golfers Against Cancer (GAC) has awarded seed grants to three research teams at the University of Colorado (CU) Cancer Center to advance CAR T-cell therapy for pediatric cancers. The funding supports innovative projects targeting pediatric sarcomas, ependymoma, and drug resistance in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Richard Schulick, MD, MBA, director of the CU Cancer Center, emphasized the importance of such funding for fostering innovation. "What you’re funding are all the brilliant ideas that evolve from researchers at the CU Cancer Center," he stated during the check presentation ceremony.
Enhancing CAR T-cell Therapy for Sarcomas
Michael Verneris, MD, Charles Shields, PhD, and Emily Blauel, MD, will use the GAC funding to explore the use of particle "backpacks" to enhance CAR T-cell therapy in pediatric sarcomas. These backpacks bind to immune cells and slowly release encapsulated drugs, aiming to achieve targeted and sustained drug delivery within tumors. Verneris noted that the grant provides a crucial foothold for their risky research, enabling them to gather preliminary data necessary for larger grants from organizations like the NIH.
Novel Logic-Gated CAR-T Cells for Ependymoma
Nicholas Foreman, MD, and Sujatha Venkataraman, PhD, are focusing on ependymoma, a highly aggressive brain tumor in children. Their research involves a novel type of CAR-T cell called logic-gated "AND" CAR-T cells. These cells have shown promise in selectively targeting and killing ependymoma cells of the PFA subtype while sparing normal cells. Venkataraman emphasized the critical role of small grants in translating research into impactful therapies for children.
Targeting Drug Resistance in B-cell ALL
Matthew Witkowski, PhD, and Eric Kohler, MD, PhD, are investigating drug resistance in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common cancer in children and a leading cause of cancer-related death in this population. Their research focuses on the role of the TP53 gene in resistance to CAR T-cell therapy, addressing the challenge of chemotherapy-resistant leukemia or relapse after initial immunotherapy responses. Witkowski highlighted the invaluable role of philanthropic organizations in supporting innovation, particularly in the face of increasingly challenging government funding.
