H E A LT H
Barrow tackles brain tumors Scientists in the Barrow Brain Tumor Research Center at Barrow Neurological Institute are using a multi-pronged approach to improve treatments and find cures for brain tumors, one of the deadliest cancers known to man. Three principal investigators are exploring different but related research areas in the search for effective understanding and treatment of brain tumors:
Al-Wala Awad Yael Kusne, Nader Sanai, MD, and Ning Su, MD
• Nader Sanai, MD, the neurosurgeon who directs the BBTRC, will soon begin phase 0 clinical trials to identify new medications worthy of further study. The FDA created phase 0 trials as a way to bring new drugs to market faster. These trials involve very small numbers of human subjects who receive micro doses of an experimental drug. Their tumors are then surgically removed to determine if the drug arrived at the tumor and if the drug is having the expected effect. • Shwetal Mehta, PhD, a molecular biologist, is studying the biology of tumor cells in order to find better ways of stopping them. • R achael Sirianni, PhD, a biomedical engineer, is developing ways to deliver drugs more effectively to brain tumors.
Alesia Prakapenka
Rachael Sirianni, PhD, and Alesia Prakapenka
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TRENDS MAGAZINE
To learn more about these and other amazing scientists working to keep Barrow a world-class research and treatment institution, visit www.supportBBTRC.org.
Kyle Householder
Shwetal Mehta, PhD