Immunotherapy – vaccines, drugs and modified human cells that activate the immune system to destroy tumors – can improve outcomes and prolong the lives of patients diagnosed with some type of cancers. However, these immunotherapies have failed to provide the same benefits for brain tumor patients, especially those affected by glioblastoma.

Our researchers are developing novel therapies to help the immune system more effectively fight brain tumors.

Virotherapy

Our investigators have created a mutant and safe strain of Zika virus, which specifically targets and kills glioblastoma stem cells. We hope to translate this strain to patients in the next several years.

Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT)

We are compiling exciting evidence that LITT, when combined with immune checkpoint blockade, prolongs survival in patients with recurrent glioblastoma.

Personalized vaccines

Using computational methods to analyze tumor genomics data, we have developed ways to predict which novel tumor antigens will be recognized by T cells.

Multimodal nanoscale immunotherapeutics

We work to develop unique approaches, using multifunctional nanotherapeutics to target several immunomodulatory pathways simultaneously.