Our Research
All of our projects depend on the creation and advancement of direct infusion of drugs and therapies into the brain. We have developed a technique in which nanoparticles, including viral vectors and liposomes can be infused directly into brain tumors to give enhanced drug efficacy. For many years, and continuing still, we have been working on development of direct drug delivery into the brain including cell transplantation, gene transfer and growth factor infusions for Parkinson's disease. Through gene therapy, we are working to eliminate the gene responsible for Niemann-Pick (acid sphingomyelinase). By studying the effects of L-Dopa on the brain, we are developing gene therapy for L-Dopa-induced dyskinesia.Videos
3D Reconstructions and Renderings
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3D Reconstruction of the MRI scan of Gracie, our dog patient, with infusions for brain cancer colored red
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MRI 3D reconstruction of the large brain. Cortical and brain stem region were infused with MRI contrast liposomes using CED technique.
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3D Reconstruction of AAV-AADC infusions into putamen. This and similar work alowed us to correctly design AADC gene transfer in PD patients.
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3D rendering of our Convection-Enhanced Delivery method, created by John Doval (UCD).
MRI-Visible Infusions
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MRI video of real-time infusions of liposomes into brainstem.
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MRI video of brain tumor therapy (CPT-11 liposomes) infused into Gunnar, another dog patient.
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MRI video of AAV-GFP co-infused with GDL (white) into the brain. Example of MRI-guided AAV delivery into the brain.
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A different slice of the brain showing the same AAV-AADC infusion as the previous video, in Hadrian
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MRI video of brain tumor therapy (CPT-11 liposomes) infused into Gracie brain tumor.
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Post-surgery video of Gracie, running and frolicking a day after receiving CED treatment.
Cannula Tests
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Example of modeling of convection-enhanced delivery in agarose gel.
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Example of relux (right gel) of cannula not suitable for CED. Our CED cannules are shown in the middle and left agarose gel.