Research And Grants

Target-first: Development and Optimization of Targeted Radiopharmaceutical Therapies for Pediatric Brain Tumors; A World-First Translational Study

Targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy (TRT) is an innovative form of radiation treatment. Unlike conventional external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), which irradiates both tumor and surrounding healthy tissue, TRT uses a radioactive drug that selectively binds tumor cells and delivers radiation directly at the site of disease. This principle has already shown remarkable success in adults with e.g., neuroendocrine tumors.

For children with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma/diffuse midline glioma (DIPG/DMG) and medulloblastoma (MB), treatment options remain extremely limited, with radiotherapy only offering temporary relief and chemotherapy showing little benefit. There is an urgent need for novel, effective, and less toxic approaches.

With the generous support of The Cure Starts Now Foundation, our TARGET-FIRST project launched in 2022 to explore TRT as a potential therapy for pediatric brain tumors. In the first project phase, we identified and validated promising molecular targets, establishing a strong foundation for translational development (results presented at the 2025 Brain Cancer Symposium in Banff, Canada).

The next phase will test radiolabeled ligands for binding capacity and therapeutic efficacy in tumor cell lines and preclinical models. These studies will generate the first robust dataset for pediatric TRT, paving the way for precision-guided, less toxic treatments that could transform patient outcomes.