Novel Therapeutics and Therapeutic Modalities Research Program

Overview

Research in the Novel Therapeutics and Therapeutic Modalities Research Program within Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center focuses on developing more-effective and less toxic treatments for malignant conditions.

Research activities in the program range from target discovery and preclinical studies in model systems to first-in-human and early-phase clinical trials.

The program's goal is to develop and evaluate a new generation of therapeutic approaches that encompass:

Targeted small molecules.
Nanomedicines.
Antibody-drug conjugates.
Gene therapies.
Radiodiagnostics and radiotherapeutics. These include nonparticulate therapies such as gamma rays and X-rays and particulate radiation therapies such as alpha and beta particles, protons, and carbon ions.

Program investigators capitalize on numerous unique Mayo Clinic resources, including:

The largest proton beam practice and clinical trial unit in the world.
The first clinical carbon ion facility in North America, slated for Mayo Clinic's campus in Jacksonville, Florida.
Manufacturing facilities for radiochemicals and viral vectors that comply with good manufacturing processes.
Support for testing and commercializing new radiodiagnostics and radiopharmaceuticals.

Research aims

The Novel Therapeutics and Therapeutic Modalities Research Program has three research aims:

Aim 1: Lead preclinical development of novel therapeutics and therapeutic modalities. Program investigators conduct research across a range of cancers and platforms using monotherapies and novel combinations of therapies. These include targeted small molecules, biologics, nanomedicines, gene therapies, radiodiagnostics, radiopharmaceuticals, and ionizing radiation, including alpha and beta particles, protons, and carbon ions.

Aim 2: Identify predictors of treatment sensitivity, resistance and toxicity. Program investigators use genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, immunomic, metabolomic and imaging approaches to identify predictive biomarkers and strategies to enhance sensitivity, overcome resistance and decrease toxicity.

Aim 3: Conduct first-in-human and early-phase clinical trials. Investigators are conducting bidirectional proof-of-concept studies of novel therapies and therapeutic modalities, including multimodality combinations.

Program leadership

Mitesh J. Borad, M.D.
Dr. Borad is a medical oncologist at Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Phoenix, Arizona. He is the Getz Family Research Professor and a professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Dr. Borad has been extensively involved in developing novel cancer therapeutic platforms that leverage genomic medicine and gene and virus therapies, with a focus on tumors of the liver, bile ducts and pancreas.

Scott H. Kaufmann, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Kaufmann is an oncologist at Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Rochester, Minnesota. He is the Helen C. Levitt Professor of Cancer Research and a professor of medicine and pharmacology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Dr. Kaufmann heads a lab-based research initiative that studies cell death processes and molecular mechanisms of action of targeted anticancer agents. He is deeply engaged in evaluating novel agents in early-phase clinical trials and introducing correlative studies into these trials.

Robert W. Mutter, M.D.
Dr. Mutter is a radiation oncologist at Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Rochester, Minnesota, and an associate professor of radiation oncology and pharmacology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. He studies particle therapy from multiple points of view, including personalizing patient selection and integrating particle therapy with novel targeted therapeutics. Dr. Mutter also investigates new ways to overcome therapeutic resistance in breast cancer and other malignancies through an improved understanding of the interplay between the cellular response to DNA damage and antitumor immunity.