Radiation Biology and Oncology Program
Kristoffer Valerie, Ph.D.
(804) 628-1004
ckvaleri@vcu.edu
Mitchell Anscher, M.D.
(804) 628-7238
msanscher@vcu.edu
The major objectives of the Radiation Biology and Oncology Program are to conduct cutting-edge research in molecular radiobiology and medical physics leading to clinical trials in radiation oncology; to provide a research environment conducive to extensive scientific collaborations; and to develop novel approaches for improving radiation therapy. Training of graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and medical residents in modern radiobiology, medical physics and radiation oncology is also an important component of the RBO Program.
Scientific goals
The scientific goals of the RBO Program are to:
- Investigate the biological mechanisms underlying tumor radioresistance and normal tissue injury.
- Develop novel methods of radiation delivery to enhance the therapeutic ratio.
- Provide a clinical environment in which these enhancements can be tested, with the ultimate goal of improving therapy.
These goals are pursued through three areas of scientific focus within the RBO Program: molecular radiobiology research, medical physics research and clinical research.
NCI-funded Program Project Grants
Most significantly, research in the RBO Program is supported by two NCI-funded Program Project Grants (PPGs), one in molecular radiobiology and the other in medical physics. Research conducted in the molecular radiobiology PPG aims to better understand the underlying causes of tumor radioresistance at the molecular level by focusing on signal transduction with the long-term goal of improving radiotherapy by combining genetic or pharmacologic agents with radiotherapy to improve cancer treatment. The new medical physics PPG focuses on image-guided adapted radiation therapy.
The molecular radiobiology focus area is dominated by projects with intraprogrammatic interactions in addition to extensive interprogrammatic collaborations. Medical physics projects are predominantly intraprogrammatic, but multi-institutional in nature, and clinical research has a mixture of inter- and intraprogrammatic projects. A newly approved T32 training grant in radiation oncology translational research supports the training of pre- and postdoctoral students, bridging research initiatives across RBO subprograms.
It is estimated that more than 60 percent of cancer patients currently receive radiation therapy as part of their treatment program. A better understanding of the molecular processes triggered in response to radiation exposure will lead to the development of new therapeutic tools to modulate the effects of radiation. This is exemplified by the use of EGFR inhibitors to enhance radiation therapy in the treatment of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Concurrent development of methodologies — biological or in treatment planning — to spare normal tissue may be equally important for quality of life issues of survivors, an ever-increasing population.
