Michael P. Grams, Ph.D.

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SUMMARY

Michael P. Grams, Ph.D., focuses on the physics and biology of a unique form of radiation treatment known as spatially fractionated radiation therapy. He specifically researches grid, lattice, and minibeam radiation therapy. Conventional radiation treatments uniformly expose tumor and healthy tissues using a wide beam of radiation. Spatially fractionated radiation therapy delivers a nonuniform dose of radiation characterized by an alternating pattern of high- and low-dose radiation to specific regions. Dr. Grams strives to understand the biological response mechanisms of both tumors and healthy tissues when exposed to spatially fractionated radiation therapy. He explores how this innovative modality can benefit patients with cancer who may not respond to conventional treatment. Additionally, Dr. Grams is dedicated to developing new technologies and methods to bring new forms of spatially fractionated radiation therapy to clinical practice.

Focus areas

• Tumors and healthy tissue response to spatially fractionated radiation therapy. The characteristics of radiation delivered with spatially fractionated radiation therapy differ significantly from conventional radiation treatments. These unique characteristics result in several beneficial biological effects. Dr. Grams strives to understand the mechanisms of both tumor and healthy tissue responses to this new form of radiation.
• Synergism with systemic therapy. Dr. Grams investigates how the unique features of spatially fractionated radiation therapy may improve the efficacy of systemic therapies, such as immunotherapy and chemotherapy, compared with conventional radiation.
• Safe radiation dose escalation. Minibeam radiation therapy, a unique form of spatially fractionated radiation therapy, uses submillimeter-wide beams of radiation. These very narrow beams allow for the delivery of much higher doses of radiation with minimally normal tissue damage compared with conventional treatments. Dr. Grams studies how these high radiation doses may be used to treat radioresistant cancers.
• Treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Grams explores how low doses of minibeam radiation for treatment might be a safe and effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease when using small animal models.

Significance to patient care

Despite tremendous advances in surgery, medicines, and radiation therapy, the outlook for many people with cancer remains poor. There is a key need to develop new types of treatments that improve outcomes for patients with cancer. The special features of spatially fractionated radiation therapy may meet this need by helping the patient's own immune system recognize and destroy the tumor. Spatially fractionated radiation therapy may decrease or wipe out the physical features of tumors that block drug delivery and also decrease the side effects of radiation treatment. Dr. Grams' research may lead to completely new possibilities for the treatment and potential cures for a wide variety of cancers.

Professional highlights

• Mayo Clinic Radiation Oncology Distinguished Clinical Service Award, Mayo Clinic, 2022.
• Mayo Clinic Radiation Oncology Excellence in Research Award, Mayo Clinic, 2022.
• Mayo Clinic Teacher of the Year Award for Radiation Physics, Mayo Clinic, 2021.