Research Foundation supports PDT/PCI research
The nomination committee for the Norwegian Radium Hospital Research Foundation has recently distributed more than 1.5 mill. NOK on various research projects within the field of Photodymamic therapy and Photochemical internalisation (PDT/PCI).
Among the ten applications the evaluation committe consisting of Erlend B. Smeland, Kristian Berg and Jonas Einarsson (secretary) selected the following seven projects:
1. siRNA/PCI
The project focus on the develpent of a method that makes it possible to combine the use of short interfering RNA (siRNA) with PCI and in this way achieve an adjustable effect in time and space. The funding will be used for reagents to develop the method further. A patent application is under preparation for the project.
Evaluation: The committe finds that the project has sufficient scientific and commerciel interest to be worthy of support, and recommends that the applied amount of NOK 200.000 is granted.
Project leader: Eivind Hovig, Department of Tumor Biology.
Research group: Metastasis: molecular studies and development of methods, headed by senior scientist Eivind Hovig (PhD), with stipendiate Sigurd Bøe and laborant Ane Sager Longva.
2. Preclinical study for use of PDT for purificaion of autografts
The project carries out preclinical studies in order to evaluate the effect of PDT on autografts. The aim is to find whether PDT eliminates possible remaining malignous cells before the bone marrow cells are given back to the patient. In addition, immunological effects of PDT during such treatment will be investigated.
Evaluation: the committe finds the project worthy of support and recommends that salary for a technician for one year is granted, NOK 400.000.
Project leader: Jahn M. Nesland, Department of Pathology.
Member of research group: Qian Peng.
3. PhD stipend for Arnfinn Engeset Steindal.
PhD stipend for Arnfinn Engeset Steindal
The project will focus on the coupling between PDT and folic acid. The project will especially be aimed at mapping whether it is possible to increase the tumour sensitivity of the photo sensitizers by coupling photo sensitizers to the uptake of folic acid.
Evaluation: the committee finds the project worthy of support, and recommends that salary for a stipendiate for 6 months is granted, NOK 240.000.
Arnfinn Engeset Steindal is a member of Johan Moans group: the Biophysics and PDT group.
4. Post doctoral stipend to Petras Juzenas
The post doctoral stipend of Petras Juzenas has been financed by the Norwegian Cancer Society for 3 years. The title of his project is Measurements of photosensitization response and tissue oxygenation during photodynamic therapy. It is now applied for post doctoral stipend for 6 months to fulfill the project.
Evaluation: the committee finds the project worthy of support, and recommends that salary for a stipendiate for 6 months is granted, NOK 260.000.
Petras Juzenas is a member of Johan Moans group: the Biophysics and PDT group.
5. Selective disruption of the blood brain barrier by PCI.
The project will investigate the possibilities for using PCI in local degradation of the blood-brain barrier at local treatment of malignant brain tumours (gliomas).
The project is a collaboration between the Department of Pathology at Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet HF, Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, University of California and University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Evaluation: the committe finds that the development of a better method for treatment of gliamas based on PCI is worthy of support. It has been applied for operational expenses, a total of NOK 192.000. The committee recommends a grant of NOK 100.000 for the project, and the committee is prepared to consider a further support in 2007, depending on the progress report.
Prinicipal investigator is H. Hirchberg, RR.
Other scientists involved: Qian Peng, Even Angell-Petersen and Olav Engebraaten.
6. PhD stipend for Zoya Lagunova.
The project focuses on ongoing project at the Department of Radiation Biology on the connection between vitamin D and cancer. A patent application for this project is in progress. Specifically this project will test whether topical of intraperitonal administration of D3 will influence the levels of proroporphyrin and the effect of PDT in mice with adenocarcinoma.
Evaluation: the committee finds the project worthy of support, and recommends that salary for a stipendiat for 6 months is granted, NOK 240.000.
Zoya Lagunova is a member of Johan Moans group: the Biophysics and PDT group
7. Technical equipment for clinical study
The equipment will be used by post doc dr. med Natalje Eijke in a test of different doses of light at PDT of cancer cutis. The steerin group for PDT has granted wage costs.
Evaluation: the committee finds the project worthy of support, and recommends that NOK 65.000 is granted for the purchase of a CCD spectrometer.
Natalje Eikje works with Trond Warloe.
Link:
1. siRNA/PCI
The project focus on the develpent of a method that makes it possible to combine the use of short interfering RNA (siRNA) with PCI and in this way achieve an adjustable effect in time and space. The funding will be used for reagents to develop the method further. A patent application is under preparation for the project.
Evaluation: The committe finds that the project has sufficient scientific and commerciel interest to be worthy of support, and recommends that the applied amount of NOK 200.000 is granted.
Project leader: Eivind Hovig, Department of Tumor Biology.
Research group: Metastasis: molecular studies and development of methods, headed by senior scientist Eivind Hovig (PhD), with stipendiate Sigurd Bøe and laborant Ane Sager Longva.
2. Preclinical study for use of PDT for purificaion of autografts
The project carries out preclinical studies in order to evaluate the effect of PDT on autografts. The aim is to find whether PDT eliminates possible remaining malignous cells before the bone marrow cells are given back to the patient. In addition, immunological effects of PDT during such treatment will be investigated.
Evaluation: the committe finds the project worthy of support and recommends that salary for a technician for one year is granted, NOK 400.000.
Project leader: Jahn M. Nesland, Department of Pathology.
Member of research group: Qian Peng.
3. PhD stipend for Arnfinn Engeset Steindal.
PhD stipend for Arnfinn Engeset Steindal
The project will focus on the coupling between PDT and folic acid. The project will especially be aimed at mapping whether it is possible to increase the tumour sensitivity of the photo sensitizers by coupling photo sensitizers to the uptake of folic acid.
Evaluation: the committee finds the project worthy of support, and recommends that salary for a stipendiate for 6 months is granted, NOK 240.000.
Arnfinn Engeset Steindal is a member of Johan Moans group: the Biophysics and PDT group.
4. Post doctoral stipend to Petras Juzenas
The post doctoral stipend of Petras Juzenas has been financed by the Norwegian Cancer Society for 3 years. The title of his project is Measurements of photosensitization response and tissue oxygenation during photodynamic therapy. It is now applied for post doctoral stipend for 6 months to fulfill the project.
Evaluation: the committee finds the project worthy of support, and recommends that salary for a stipendiate for 6 months is granted, NOK 260.000.
Petras Juzenas is a member of Johan Moans group: the Biophysics and PDT group.
5. Selective disruption of the blood brain barrier by PCI.
The project will investigate the possibilities for using PCI in local degradation of the blood-brain barrier at local treatment of malignant brain tumours (gliomas).
The project is a collaboration between the Department of Pathology at Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet HF, Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, University of California and University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Evaluation: the committe finds that the development of a better method for treatment of gliamas based on PCI is worthy of support. It has been applied for operational expenses, a total of NOK 192.000. The committee recommends a grant of NOK 100.000 for the project, and the committee is prepared to consider a further support in 2007, depending on the progress report.
Prinicipal investigator is H. Hirchberg, RR.
Other scientists involved: Qian Peng, Even Angell-Petersen and Olav Engebraaten.
6. PhD stipend for Zoya Lagunova.
The project focuses on ongoing project at the Department of Radiation Biology on the connection between vitamin D and cancer. A patent application for this project is in progress. Specifically this project will test whether topical of intraperitonal administration of D3 will influence the levels of proroporphyrin and the effect of PDT in mice with adenocarcinoma.
Evaluation: the committee finds the project worthy of support, and recommends that salary for a stipendiat for 6 months is granted, NOK 240.000.
Zoya Lagunova is a member of Johan Moans group: the Biophysics and PDT group
7. Technical equipment for clinical study
The equipment will be used by post doc dr. med Natalje Eijke in a test of different doses of light at PDT of cancer cutis. The steerin group for PDT has granted wage costs.
Evaluation: the committee finds the project worthy of support, and recommends that NOK 65.000 is granted for the purchase of a CCD spectrometer.
Natalje Eikje works with Trond Warloe.
Link:
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