Revolutionizing medical imaging: UC San Diego researchers receive $6.7 million to develop and test non-invasive technologies for cancer diagnosis and treatment

A team of researchers at UC San Diego has received two grants totaling $6.7 million from the National Institutes of Health to develop and test technologies for noninvasive examination of immune cells present in tumors. The project aims to improve the accuracy of diagnosing and treating cancer by identifying macrophages, a crucial component of solid tumors, within a tumor.

The first technology being developed is called TAM-Sense, which uses a biologically inert dye that can be detected by magnetic resonance imaging to visualize macrophages in the body. This noninvasive method allows for whole-body imaging of inflammatory sites, which can aid in precise clinical diagnosis and treatment planning. The funding provided by the grants will support testing TAM-Sense in patients with recurrent head and neck tumors, marking an important step towards its clinical application.

The second grant will support the development of another technology that aims to improve imaging capabilities for diseases with significant inflammatory components. By pinpointing the anatomical location of inflammatory sites, this technology could help improve pain management and enable more targeted therapeutic interventions for a wide range of conditions, including autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and infectious diseases.

The researchers involved in this project are dedicated to advancing medical imaging capabilities for a wide range of conditions while improving patient care and treatment outcomes. Their work is critical in helping doctors treat coronavirus patients by analyzing and processing samples to provide accurate diagnoses. Their efforts have earned them recognition for their essential role in the fight against COVID-19.