Meet the Virginia Tech trainees looking to break into biotech commercialization

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:22:00 -0500

Seeing brain tumors through a neuroscience lens

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Cancer researcher Qi Ye investigates how brain tumors can hijack other cell systems to promote their own progression.

Cancer prevention: Can future-focused thinking help smokers quit?

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Jeff Stein of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute has been awarded a new grant that will allow his lab to test a low-cost intervention to help people, particularly those in rural areas, stop smoking.

National Cancer Institute grants support study of fluid flow in deadly brain tumors

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Jennifer Munson will use the National Institutes of Health awards to build a novel map of fluid flow in the whole brain and use focused ultrasound to study the effectiveness of drug delivery to glioblastoma tumors.

High school student takes on pediatric cancer

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 11:51:00 -0400

Through the Focused Ultrasound Foundation’s Global Internship Program, Mason Liu is tackling pediatric cancer research in the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s D.C. labs.

Researcher advances new approach to blood cancer treatment

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 13:30:00 -0400

Christopher Hourigan, a physician-scientist, is leading nationwide efforts to develop advanced techniques to better identify residual disease and tailor treatment for each patient with acute myeloid leukemia, a highly fatal blood cancer.

Research awards strengthen communities, Virginia, and the nation

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 12:24:00 -0400

From predicting pandemics and advancing drone defense to developing new treatments for traumatic brain injuries, new research awards secured by faculty in fiscal year 2025 will drive a wide range of discoveries with a shared goal of improving lives in communities near and far.

Predicting where a deadly brain cancer might go next

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 14:31:00 -0400

Cancer researcher Jennifer Munson describes a novel method for identifying where glioblastoma is likely to recur based on fluid moving through and near the tumor.

Veterinary college students showcase innovative research in summer research program

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 13:20:00 -0400

Their projects — ranging from breakthrough ultrasound technology to wildlife disease management— showcased the breadth of veterinary research happening at Virginia Tech.

Hard-to-treat cancers respond to combination therapy using a new class of drugs

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 07:24:00 -0400

In a powerful new approach, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute scientists use advanced gene editing to study potential dual therapy for lung, brain, and pancreatic cancers.

Scientists uncover immune cells that help prostate cancer resist treatment and a way to stop them

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 14:01:00 -0400

Scientists at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute identified a subtype of immune cells that helps advanced prostate cancer evade the body’s defenses, suggesting a new approach for treatment.

Could a creatine boost help the brain? Virginia Tech scientists test new ultrasound therapy

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 09:45:00 -0400

Researchers at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute are exploring whether focused ultrasound can help children with creatine deficiency overcome learning and speech delays.

‘Every time we wait, we lose someone who might have made it’

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 09:32:00 -0400

Cancer Researchers Spurred to Move Faster at the Cancer Research Symposium

For every careful step forward in cancer research, there is a patient waiting — a family holding its breath in the middle of the night. That reality was clear at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s Cancer Research Symposium in Roanoke. The annual event, organized this year by the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC Cancer Research Center in Roanoke, was created to bring together researchers — including faculty, clinicians, and students — who are united by a passion to understand cancer, improve treatments, and develop cures.

Lymph node on a chip: New immune system model developed to enhance precision medicine research

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 15:41:00 -0400

The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC’s Munson lab completed one element of an engineered tissue model that could advance medical and drug testing and provide a new tool for precision medicine.

Virginia Tech researchers find promise in a new peptide drug to combat a deadly brain cancer

Fri, 30 May 2025 06:30:00 -0400

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute scientists were able to slow glioblastoma progression in lab and animal studies by targeting treatment-resistant cancer cells.

Clinical trial at Virginia Tech provides dog with comfort and innovative treatment that could help other pets with cancer

Tue, 20 May 2025 08:19:00 -0400

Rather than pursuing aggressive surgical intervention, the dog's owner learned about a clinical trial at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.

Class of 2025: Thomas Lu named Outstanding Senior for the Bradley Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Fri, 02 May 2025 17:10:00 -0400

Thomas Lu is an expert juggler. Whether he’s flawlessly balancing his two majors and three minors with his research work at the Vlaisavljevich Research Lab, or participating in the actual juggling club he founded, Lu never lets a ball drop.

Brotherly bond sparks biomedical impact

Thomas Lu, a senior in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech, is using his talents in technology to forge a path into biomedical engineering and make the world a better place for people like his brother, Gordon. Together with his research advisor, Eli Vlaisavljevich, and other classmates, Lu has developed advanced, robotically guided histotripsy systems for treating bone cancer. He shares how his family has shaped his outlook on life, how we can see ourselves in technology, and his passion for helping others.

Pet iguana successfully treated for cancer at Virginia Tech animal cancer center

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 09:02:00 -0400

When their well-trained 6-foot iguana developed cancer, the Smiths turned to cutting-edge treatment at the veterinary college's Roanoke hospital.

AI-backed saliva test shows promise for flagging chemotherapy risk, early results indicate

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC scientists developed a saliva-based artificial intelligence screening method that could flag patients at risk for dangerous side effects from a widely used chemotherapy drug.

Researchers investigate low-intensity electrical pulses to help the immune system fight cancer

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0400

High-intensity electrical pulses have been medically used to destroy tumors while sparing healthy tissue. But lower-intensity pulses may have a different effect — they reshape the battlefield, making tumors more vulnerable to the body’s own defenses.

‘Milestone’ discovery may unlock the true biomedical might of exosomes

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 12:30:00 -0400

Researchers identified a freeze-drying process to produce, warehouse, and deliver a wound-healing medicine for cancer patients, military troops, and industrial workers exposed to radiation.

Big dog, even bigger mission

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 08:26:00 -0400

Frida, a cane corso, lived a joyous life that was extended by treatment at the Animal Cancer Care and Research Center that may help other dogs and people live longer, fuller lives.

Finding community and focus in interdisciplinary cancer research

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 09:12:00 -0400

Doctoral student Blanka Bordas had not planned to work in Washington, D.C., as she earned her degree, but opted to do so for the chance to work with an outstanding mentor on cancer research

'Curious Conversations' podcast: Eli Vlaisavljevich talks about the cancer-fighting bubbles of histotripsy

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 09:52:00 -0500

Vlaisavljevich explained the mechanics of how histotripsy, a novel ultrasound therapy for cancer treatment, works, its clinical applications, and the body's immune response to it.

Histotripsy: What is it and how does it work?

On this episode of Engineering Explains… What is histotripsy? Where is histotripsy available? What are the side effects? Is it only for the liver? Can it be used in other applications? Eli Vlaisavljevich provides his expertise on the fascinating field of non-invasive cancer therapy! While bubbles, clouds, and funny looking speakers may sound imaginary, histotripsy is the real deal. By using targeted ultrasound frequencies, it provides a friendlier alternative to the traditional radiation or surgical counterparts, creating a safe, highly precise tool for treating more than just cancer. Want to know more about what histotripsy is? See Eli's lab below: https://ultrasound-lab.beam.vt.edu/

What is histotripsy and how does it work?

On this episode of Engineering Explained… What is histotripsy? Where is histotripsy available? What are the side effects? Is it only for the liver? Can it be used in other applications? Eli Vlaisavljevich provides his expertise on the fascinating field of non-invasive cancer therapy! While bubbles, clouds, and funny looking speakers may sound imaginary, histotripsy is the real deal. By using targeted ultrasound frequencies, it provides a friendlier alternative to the traditional radiation or surgical counterparts, creating a safe, highly precise tool for treating more than just cancer. Want to know more about what histotripsy is? See Eli's lab below: https://ultrasound-lab.beam.vt.edu/

Children’s National Hospital, Virginia Tech expand research partnership to advance pediatric health

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 13:00:00 -0500

The partnership brings together Children’s National, ranked among the nation’s top pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, and Virginia Tech, a leading academic research institution.

Graduate student’s research goal: Improve outcomes for brain cancer patients

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

A Jeanine L. Matte Fellowship will help advance Samantha Howerton’s doctoral research into personalized therapies for glioblastoma.

John Robertson honored with emeritus status

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 09:47:00 -0500

A member of the Virginia Tech community for more than 34 years, Robertson made significant contributions to alleviate human and animal suffering through his work developing novel medical tests and biomedical devices

New Virginia Tech cancer researcher seeks to understand and predict deadly tumor metastasis

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0500

Shenglin Mei, the newest principal investigator of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute Cancer Research Center in Washington, D.C., applies computational biology, genetics, and immunology to study cancer’s spread away from the primary tumor.

Virginia Tech researcher receives collaborative grant to improve cancer therapies

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 14:18:00 -0500

Professor Padma Rajagopalan, industry partner Ramona Optics, and Wake Forest Medical School received a $2.4 million National Institute of Health Small Business Innovation Research grant to design 3D liver organoids using patient derived cells and new microscopy imaging technology.

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute spinoff company translates science into peptide drugs targeting cancer stem cells

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0500

Bioentrepreneur Samy Lamouille recently joined a Johnson & Johnson life science and health care incubator, opening new avenues for networking and development.

Virginia Tech researchers find menthol restrictions may drive smokers to healthier alternatives

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:06:00 -0400

Scientists find when menthol is unavailable, smokers may shift to nicotine replacement options, which could have good health benefits.

Virginia Tech students named 2024 Astronaut Scholars

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 09:45:00 -0400

College of Science students Chloe Nyhart and Stephen Argauer earned spots in the highly competitive 2024 class of Astronaut Scholars.

Cancer researcher wants to make treatment better, more accessible

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0400

DaeYong Lee, assistant professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, aims to use biomaterials to improve cancer immunotherapy and reduce disparities in treatment outcomes.

Scientist awarded National Institutes of Health grant to examine cancer-related enzyme

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0400

Kathleen Mulvaney, assistant professor with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s Cancer Research Center — D.C., will investigate the basic biology of PRMT5, an enzyme that can be found in 15 percent of human cancers.

From Chile to Virginia: Ph.D. research improves brain tumor measurement in dogs

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0400

A study by doctoral student Josefa Garcia Mora on canine brain tumor measurement has become one of the most cited papers in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

New technique could help treat aggressive brain tumors

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 10:03:00 -0400

Burst sine wave electroporation was found to cause less damage to cells and tissue but more disruption to the blood-brain barrier.

Dog's journey at Animal Cancer Care and Research Center inspires owners, clinical professionals

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 10:36:00 -0400

A dog named Joe's journey at the Animal Cancer Care and Research Center in Roanoke, from a serendipitous adoption to an inspiring battle with cancer, showcases the resilience, compassion, and transformative power of advanced veterinary care.

Research identifies possible new pathway to treatment of colorectal cancer

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 13:05:00 -0400

A recently published paper on a kinase and its importance in triggering cellular responses caps more than 12 years of research for the veterinary college's Coy Allen.

Researchers find flavor restrictions affect tobacco buyers differently depending on socioeconomic status

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 09:44:00 -0400

Public policies intended to reduce harm might perpetuate health disparities in cigarette smoking, the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., a study finds.

Ilektra Athanasiadi finds rewards in using radiation therapy to treat pets with cancer

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 11:47:00 -0400

As a radiation oncologist, Athanasiadi is a core part of the Animal Cancer Care and Research Center, one of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine’s three hospitals.

Focusing on ultrasound research at Virginia Tech

Three Virginia Tech faculty members talk about their approaches to a wide range of Focused Ultrasound research. The university's overarching vision is to push the boundaries of Focused Ultrasound clinical treatment through technological innovation, as well as therapeutic innovation in veterinary and human medicine. More than 30 researchers and technicians across Virginia Tech are involved in the effort.

Dogs play a key role in veterinary college’s brain cancer trial

Tue, 21 May 2024 12:10:00 -0400

A collaborative study explores an innovative therapy called histotripsy, harnessing the power of focused ultrasound to break down tumors with precision.

Expert provides sun safety tips for Skin Cancer Awareness month

Tue, 21 May 2024 09:00:53 -0400

May is Skin Cancer Awareness month, intended to call attention to the most common, but also most preventable, form of cancer. With summer just around the corner, Dr. Stephanie Lareau with the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine outlined many ways to protect yourself from too much ultraviolet radiation and avoid the dangers of too much sun exposure.

Researchers reveal promising treatment target for resistant brain cancer

Fri, 17 May 2024 13:49:00 -0400

For many patients with a deadly type of brain cancer called glioblastoma, chemotherapy resistance is a big problem. But now, Virginia Tech researchers with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC may have moved a step closer to a solution.

Virginia Tech Animal Cancer Care and Research Center celebrates continuing support from Petco Love for canine and feline cancer treatments

Wed, 08 May 2024 08:00:00 -0400

The Virginia Tech Animal Cancer Care and Research Center (ACCRC) will be able to continue offering financial assistance to pet owners thanks to the continuing support from Petco Love and a two-year grant totaling $150,000. This partnership highlights the critical need for effective pet cancer care and emphasizes the ACCRC's commitment to pioneering research and clinical trials.

Testing for residual cancer cells before blood cell transplant therapy is important and practical, new study finds

Thu, 02 May 2024 11:00:00 -0400

Patients in remission after battling blood cancer are likely to have better outcomes if no trace of the cancer is detectable before the patients receive donor blood cells. The finding in JAMA Oncology emphasizes the importance of testing for lingering cancer cells in the body after people receive apparently successful chemotherapy treatment.

2024 Relay For Life at Virginia Tech

Relay For Life at Virginia Tech is a community-wide, campus-based movement dedicated to eliminating cancer by living out the University's motto, "Ut Prosim" (That I May Serve) as the organization strives to raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society.

Researchers develop a new way to safely boost immune cells to fight cancer

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 14:00:00 -0400

Researchers in the College of Engineering explore a cancer immunotherapy treatment that involves activating the immune cells in the body and reprogramming them to attack and destroy cancer cells. This therapeutic method frequently uses cytokines, small protein molecules that act as intercellular biochemical messengers and are released by the body's immune cells to coordinate their response.

Virginia Tech professor to be inducted into prestigious American Society for Clinical Investigation

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 10:22:00 -0400

Christopher Hourigan, director of the Cancer Research Center – D.C., has been inducted into the American Society for Clinical Investigation, a historic membership for a faculty member of Virginia Tech.

New research aims to use AI to make cancer diagnostics for pets more available and affordable

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 09:20:00 -0400

Ph.D. student Christina Pacholec will use artificial intelligence to analyze thousands of cytological images in an effort to identify lymphoma in dogs more quickly and less invasively.

Monet Roberts receives inaugural Henrietta Lacks Legacy award

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 12:34:00 -0500

Roberts, assistant professor in the College of Engineering, is honored during Black History Month for her contributions to research and community.

Histotripsy lab creates meaningful sound for local artist

Katherine Nies came to campus to record the unique sounds from Eli Vlaisavljevich's Therapeutic Ultrasound and Non-Invasive Therapies Laboratory. Nies along with her Producer Orion Redwolf are using the recordings on her new song "Sweet Blue". The song was written about her brother Ryan, who passed away from cancer, and the recording took place on what would have been his 40th birthday.

Data visualization aids Virginia Tech cancer researcher’s quest for better brain tumor treatment

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Jennifer Munson, associate professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, shared her data on fluid flow in brain tumors with Virginia Tech’s Visionarium, which created 3D visualizations that allow new insights by Munson and her team.

2023 marks a year of firsts for Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0500

The interdisciplinary program saw its first student assigned full-time to a Fralin Biomedical Research Institute lab in Washington, D.C., its first students from Nepal and Ghana in an internationally diverse incoming cohort, and its first student to be awarded a prestigious grant for future physician-scientists.

Virginia Tech faculty inducted as Biomedical Engineering Society fellows

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0500

Fellows are nominated by their peers and selected by a panel based on their professional achievements and contributions to the biomedical engineering community.

Oral cancer clinical trial offers hope to dogs and their owners

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 12:29:00 -0500

Bambi, a border collie, is enrolled in a clinical trial at the Animal Cancer Care and Research Center in Roanoke. In the clinical trial, veterinary radiation oncologist Ilektra Athanasiadi aims to evaluate the safety and feasibility of treating oral cancers with a device that delivers chemotherapy directly to the tumor.

Pioneering histotripsy device receives FDA clearance to treat liver cancer

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 09:56:00 -0500

The cutting-edge medical device and its technology were developed in part by Kendall and Laura Hendrick Junior Faculty Fellow Eli Vlaisavljevich.

New cancer drug shows promise in targeting genetic weakness in tumors, Virginia Tech expert says

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:01:00 -0400

In an invited review article in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, Kathleen Mulvaney, assistant professor with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, talks about the potential of a new drug that has shown early promise in clinical trials for solid tumors by killing cancer cells that lack specific genes.

Virginia Tech and Weizmann Institute of Science tackle cell migration on fibers

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 12:47:00 -0400

Amrinder Nain has established international research partnerships for unique investigations in cellular movement. As his team looks at the coiling movement of cells, he continues to champion globally connected labs.

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute researchers take on public health challenge of hepatitis C

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 10:09:00 -0400

The institute’s Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory will lead efforts to provide genomic sequencing to help decrease spread of the virus that can cause liver damage.

Henrietta Lacks statues unveiled where her legacy thrives

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 11:19:00 -0400

Mirroring this week’s statue dedication ceremony at Lacks Plaza in Roanoke, small-scale statues of the woman whose ‘immortal’ cells changed the world of medical research were dedicated at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, and Carilion Clinic.

Carla Finkielstein named Roger H. Moore and Mojdeh Khatam-Moore Dean’s Faculty Fellow

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 15:42:00 -0400

A member of the Virginia Tech faculty since 2005, Finkielstein currently serves as the associate director of research of the Academy of Integrated Science in the College of Science and as interim co-director of the Virginia Tech Cancer Research Alliance.

Landmark $50 million gift to dramatically expand health sciences research at Virginia Tech

The Richmond, Virginia-based Red Gates Foundation recently committed $50 million to the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC to accelerate health sciences research at Virginia Tech. The gift is among the largest ever made to the university. https://news.vt.edu/articles/2023/09/fbri-gift.html

Landmark $50 million gift to dramatically expand health sciences research at Virginia Tech

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 03:47:00 -0400

The Richmond-based Red Gates Foundation committed $50 million to the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC to accelerate health sciences research at Virginia Tech. The gift is among the largest ever made to the university.

Virginia Tech outlines ambitious strategy to spearhead cancer research and elevate university's global standing

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 14:00:00 -0400

The university is mustering its scientists and engineers behind a new strategy to help families who are struggling with cancer, a disease that occurs in almost 2 million people and claims more than 600,000 lives annually in the United States.

Helen the cane corso helps humans and animals through osteosarcoma clinical trial

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 10:18:00 -0400

Helen is an 8½-year old gentle giant who’s fighting osteosarcoma and, through participation in a clinical trial through the Animal Cancer Care and Research Center, is helping develop a new cancer treatment.

Nain lab partners with researchers in Japan and Israel to put cancer cells on a tightrope

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 09:33:00 -0400

An international research group led by Virginia Tech Professor Amrinder Nain and Professor Shiro Suetsugu of the Nara Institute of Science and Technology has uncovered new findings that explain how cancer cells adhere to their environment.

2023 Virginia Tech Cancer Research Alliance Retreat

Aligning Researchers with Resources The second annual Virginia Tech Cancer Research Alliance Retreat was held May 24 and 25 on the Children's National Research and Innovation Campus in Washington, D.C. Alliance members shared their research, forged new collaborations, and learned from speakers spanning veterinary and human oncology and biomedical cancer research.

Joining forces: Virginia Tech Cancer Research Alliance scientists to share ideas, innovations

Tue, 23 May 2023 09:55:00 -0400

For its second annual retreat, the Virginia Tech Cancer Research Alliance is broadening its reach and opportunities for collaboration and innovation. The 2023 event will take place May 24 and May 25 in Washington, D.C., at the Children’s National Research and Innovation Campus.

Cancer researchers team up against deadliest brain tumors in children

Experts from Children's National, Virginia Tech, and Columbia University join forces to explore new tactics to fight lethal childhood brain cancer.

Cancer researchers team up against deadliest brain tumors in children

Fri, 19 May 2023 06:47:00 -0400

Virginia Tech Cancer Research Alliance innovators with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and the College of Engineering have joined a Children’s National Hospital-led effort to treat deadly brain tumors with ultrahigh frequency sound waves.

2023 Relay for Life at Virginia Tech raises over $200,000

This year's event raised a total of $245,832. Virginia Tech is the largest collegiate Relay for Life event in the nation and has raised millions of dollars in support for the American Cancer Society.

Clinical trials unite veterinary oncologists with pet owners to help unravel cancer mysteries

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 09:26:00 -0400

The Animal Cancer Care and Research Clinic (ACCRC) is increasing its clinical trials as it seeks to develop better treatments for several types of cancer. Clinical trials are essential for modern medicine, enabling research and development of new therapies, drugs, and techniques to fight diseases. But these advances can only happen with the support of pet owners and their participating pets.

Golden retriever’s cancer treatment gives veterinary student perspective as pet owner

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 08:00:00 -0400

A dog owner, a veterinary clinic assistant, and a veterinary student might see advanced radiation treatment of a pet from somewhat different perspectives. But Taylor Layton sees it from all three at once.

Physicists model cell migration to learn how cancer cells navigate tissue

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 13:57:00 -0500

In a study published by Biophysical Journal, scientists Wenya Shu and Nadir Kaplan explored mesenchymal migration through cell simulations and mathematical modeling.

Virginia Tech researcher’s 3D model of brain tumor environment could aid personalized treatment

Jennifer Munson and her research team’s model of the glioblastoma tumor microenvironment could help with understanding why the cancer is so resistant to treatment and so often returns after surgery.

Veterinary college launches revolutionary cancer studies, seeks expanded teaching hospital

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 11:00:00 -0500

The Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine has garnered national attention with the launch of a center specializing in the treatment and study of cancer in companion animals, M. Daniel Givens, dean of the college, told the Board of Visitors at its November meeting.

Animal Cancer Care and Research Center exceeds expectations in its first two years

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 10:27:00 -0500

The center recently celebrated two years since its opening in Roanoke beside Virginia Tech’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC.

Virginia Tech researchers discover how bacteria make pancreatic cancer cells grow and move

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 14:02:00 -0400

Pancreatic cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Several characteristics make the disease difficult to treat, including its ability to suppress the immune system and its complex location and structure, which complicate surgery and chemotherapy delivery.

Virginia Tech team receives $2 million grant to use bubbles to destroy deadly tumors

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 10:45:00 -0400

Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of the major cancers, and only 10 percent of patients live longer than five years after diagnosis. Treatment options can be limited, but an interdisciplinary team led by Irving Coy Allen, associate professor of inflammatory diseases at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, might change that.

New cancer biologist targets ‘Achilles heel’ in deadly brain cancers

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 20:31:00 -0400

Cancer biologist Kathleen Mulvaney joins the faculty of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC on Oct. 1. Her lab will be in Washington, D.C., on the Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus as part of a partnership between Virginia Tech and Children’s National.

New study may inform chemotherapy approaches for breast cancer

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 07:36:00 -0400

In a first-of-its-kind finding, Virginia Tech researchers have found platinum-based chemotherapy drugs may activate a breast cancer patient’s lymphatic system and affect how tumor cells spread. But the drugs might be made more effective if the changes to the lymphatic system can be blocked or even reversed by an additional therapy.

Virginia Tech researcher’s 3D model of brain tumor environment could aid personalized treatment

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 10:14:00 -0400

Scientists have developed a novel 3D tissue-engineered model of the glioblastoma tumor microenvironment that can be used to learn why the tumors return and what treatments will be most effective at eradicating them – right down to a patient-specific level.

So long, Roanoke; get ready, Denmark, for the 2024 Precision Neuroscience conference

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 10:37:00 -0400

Researchers, clinicians, and students from four countries recently worked side-by-side for three days in Roanoke, sharing ideas to help the nearly 1 billion people worldwide coping with brain disorders.

Scholar award helps doctoral student advance cancer treatment while enhancing representation

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 07:31:00 -0400

Sabrina Campelo, a doctoral student in the Virginia Tech-Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences program, will continue her innovative work in translational cancer research with the help of the nonprofit Philanthropic Educational Organization Scholar Award for the 2022-23 academic year.

‪Barath Udayasurya, Taking a Closer Look at Cancer Research

‪Barath Udayasurya, a 2022 PhD graduate in Biomedical Engineering is part of the Verbridge Lab. His cancer research focuses on the presence of bacteria in the tumor microbiome, and how it impacts patient progression. Barath credits collaboration across departments as a key to his success at Virginia Tech and views collaboration as a necessary component of improving healthcare.

Relay for Life Returns to Virginia Tech's Campus

The nation's largest collegiate Relay for Life event made its return to Virginia Tech's campus for the first time since 2019. Relay For Life at Virginia Tech is a community-wide, campus-based movement dedicated to eliminating cancer by living out the University's motto, "Ut Prosim" (That I May Serve) as the organization strives to raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society.

Cancer Research Alliance forges new collaborations, strengthens research programs at inaugural retreat

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 08:58:00 -0400

More than 100 cancer researchers from across Virginia Tech recently met at the first Cancer Research Alliance retreat hosted by the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC.

When mitochondria lose their might

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 10:35:00 -0400

School of Neuroscience Assistant Professor Alicia Pickrell will use a $1.9 million U.S. National Institutes of Health grant to study how dysfunctional mitochondria lead to neurodegenerative diseases, congenital heart disease, strokes, and cancer.

Cancer Research Alliance forges new collaborations, strengthens research programs at inaugural retreat

More than 100 cancer researchers from across Virginia Tech met at the first Cancer Research Alliance retreat hosted by the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC on March 18.

Robert Gourdie elected fellow of American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 14:29:00 -0400

Robert Gourdie, a cardiovascular scientist, biomedical engineer, and professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, has been named to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows.

Samy Lamouille recognized as Research Mentor of the Year at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 09:35:00 -0400

Students repeatedly describe Lamouille as a mentor who empowers them to independently seek answers to research questions. He will receive the award at this year’s Medical Student Research Symposium, which is set for March 25 beginning at noon at the school.

Interdisciplinary team wins grant to develop drug for brain cancer

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 08:49:00 -0400

The National Institutes of Health is awarding a $3.8 million grant to John Rossmeisl, the Dr. and Mrs. Dorsey Taylor Mahin Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, and Waldemar Debinski, cancer biology professor at Wake Forest School of Medicine. The team will treat human brain cancer with a drug they have previously used to treat canines.

Medical student researches elusive path to brain cancer treatment at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Natalia Sutherland, a fourth-year student at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, has spent three years searching for a way to increase the effectiveness of treatment for the most common and aggressive form of primary brain cancer in adults: glioblastoma multiforme.

Rare disease research gives families hope, ‘vital’ to advancing medicine

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 10:01:00 -0500

Rare diseases afflict 300 million people worldwide. Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC researchers are bridging a gap in scientific knowledge by studying some of the diseases that together add up to a formidable public health challenge. Feb. 28 marks the 14th international Rare Disease Day.

John Robertson named senior member of the National Academy of Inventors

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 10:35:00 -0500

As part of the Cancer Engineering Team, Robertson and colleagues have developed the use of energy-based therapies for treating previously untreatable cancers, such as brain and liver tumors.

Scientists at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute develop new strategy for brain cancer treatment

In a new study published in Oncogenesis, Zhi Sheng and Rob Gourdie of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC describe how two protein-targeting drugs – when combined with chemotherapy – yield synergistic cytotoxicity to treatment-resistant glioblastoma.

Scientists at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute develop new strategy for brain cancer treatment

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 07:52:00 -0500

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute biotech spin-out raises additional $305,000 in investments

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 12:25:00 -0500

With this wave of new grants and investments, Acomhal Research Inc. is nearing a million dollars in total funding toward development of a new therapeutic to fight drug-resistant cancers such as glioblastoma multiforme and metastatic disease including triple negative breast cancer.

New veterinary college faculty member seeks to improve cancer diagnostic tools

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 09:47:00 -0500

Priscila Serpa has recently joined the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine as a research assistant professor of clinical pathology.

Meet Jenny Munson, a cancer scientist at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

Jenny Munson is a principal investigator at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute who studies the tumor microenvironment in cancers, including glioblastoma, the deadliest form of brain cancer. Munson's lab is located in the new $90-million biomedical research addition building in Roanoke.

Medical student puts studies on pause to earn doctorate in university's Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health program

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 09:30:00 -0400

After Oscar Alcoreza was named a fellow in the Howard Hughes Medical Research Fellows program for a year for his research at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute while he was in medical school, he decided to spend three additional years in the TBMH program.

Tour the state-of-the-art Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC Addition

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute spinoff Tiny Cargo Co. among Washington, DC Health Innovation QuickFire Challenge awardees

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 15:31:00 -0400

Tiny Cargo Co., founded by Rob Gourdie, professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, is among five companies to receive the award, which includes $50,000, the opportunity to reside at JLABS @ Washington, D.C. for one year, and mentorship from experts at the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies.

Leader in eliminating disparities in cancer survival to deliver season’s first Maury Strauss lecture

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 10:23:00 -0400

Otis Brawley, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Oncology at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University, will discuss disparities in how cancer is prevented, diagnosed, and treated. The talk, at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 9, is the first in the 2021-22 season of the Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture Series.

Doctoral student receives international NSF award to study blood vessels’ role in oxygen delivery

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 08:54:41 -0400

Cora Esparza, a third-year doctoral student in biomedical engineering, is driven by work that fills a need, and she does this in her research. She has received a National Science Foundation IIE-Graduate International Research Experience award to pursue her research abroad.

From pasture to patient: Fralin Biomedical Research Institute scientists distill cow’s milk into nano-capsules for drug delivery

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 14:24:00 -0400

Rob Gourdie, professor and director of the Center for Vascular and Heart Research at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, and his lab team developed a scalable method to harvest nano-sized biological capsules called exosomes from unpasteurized cow’s milk. Exosomes are a promising candidate for drug delivery in humans.

Biomedical engineering graduate student receives grant to advance research in cancer treatment

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 09:44:00 -0400

Jessica Gannon, a doctoral student in biomedical engineering through Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University’s School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, received a graduate research fellowship program award. She is one of six graduate students in the College of Engineering who received the prestigious fellowship this year.

Cancer biologist to join Fralin Biomedical Research Institute faculty, launch research lab in Washington, D.C.

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 09:39:00 -0400

Jia-Ray Yu will be the first Virginia Tech faculty member to move into the university’s new research facilities on the Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus. Yu will be a member of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, and an assistant professor in the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine starting Sept. 1.

Zerin Khan, Developing Treatment for Glioblastoma

As a part of the Laboratory of Integrative Tumor Ecology at Virginia Tech, Zerin Khan hopes to help create better outcomes for patients diagnosed with Glioblastoma.

Transdisciplinary collaborations essential to tackling cancer

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 11:00:00 -0400

A dynamic collaboration between researchers in the veterinary college’s new Animal Cancer Care and Research Center and Virginia Tech’s Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics has attracted substantial funding for a unique approach to treating osteosarcoma, a notoriously painful and aggressive bone cancer that primarily afflicts large-breed dogs, children, and adolescents.

iTHRIV announces incoming 2021 Scholars Program cohort

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 12:00:00 -0400

The integrated Translational Research Institute of Virginia (iTHRIV) has announced its fifth class of iTHRIV Scholars. Seven researchers from the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech will participate in the structured, two-year research, training, and mentorship program.

The Virginia Tech SBES program is preparing graduate students for an ever-changing medical industry

The Virginia Tech – Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (SBES) is a unique multidisciplinary program that bridges the biomedical sciences, biomedical engineering, and real-world applications to enhance the quality of life. Their world-class students and faculty members are innovating across a continuum of systems — from natural to engineered to medical.

TBMH graduate student awarded two grants to advance brain cancer research

Wed, 05 May 2021 08:44:00 -0400

Joelle Martin, who will defend her doctoral dissertation this month, received the Zeta Beta Tau Cancer Research Award and a graduate fellowship provided by philanthropist, alumnus, and longtime Virginia Tech benefactor Ray Gaskins ‘64.

Scientists from Virginia Tech, City of Hope aim to improve therapy for deadly brain cancer

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 10:35:00 -0400

Researchers at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and City of Hope believe the complex way fluid flows through glioblastoma tumors holds the key to improving the success of CAR-T cell therapy in treating the cancer and helping more patients survive.

TBMH graduate student awarded NIH fellowship to study ovarian cancer cell mitochondria

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 09:31:00 -0400

Joe Grieco, a Virginia Tech translational biology, medicine, and health graduate (TBMH) graduate student, was awarded a National Institutes of Health grant that will fund his remaining predoctoral research on ovarian cancer. Grieco is mentored by Eva Schmelz, a professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Hokies for Good: Conquering Cancer through Research Collaboration

Join us as we explore the groundbreaking partnership between the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and Children's National Hospital in Washington D.C. Deemed a one-of-a-kind endeavor to transform pediatric research and health care, the Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus in Washington, D.C., has been years in the making and Virginia Tech's unprecedented partnership has been key to bringing this unified vision to reality. Our panel discussion with university and hospital leaders and researchers will highlight the innovative ecosystem where best-in-class research partners are advancing, discovering, and developing breakthroughs into new treatments and technologies to benefit children everywhere.

Virginia Tech, Children’s National scientists to discuss cancer research at ‘Hokies for Good’ event

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 12:04:00 -0400

The scientists will talk about leading-edge cancer research projects in a public Zoom discussion at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13. The event is an opportunity for people to meet some of the dedicated researchers working together to take on cancer.

TBMH graduate student awarded two grants to advance brain cancer research

Joelle Martin, a graduate research assistant in the Sontheimer Lab at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, received a Zeta Beta Tau Cancer Research Award and a student fellowship funded by Virginia Tech alumnus and benefactor Ray Gaskins.

Meet Scientists Working at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

From cancer cells to human behavior - learn about some of the fascinating, high-impact research that female faculty members at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute are working on.

Unified Vision: How Children’s National Hospital, Virginia Tech, JLABS are creating pediatric and healthcare research hub in Washington, D.C.

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 15:46:00 -0500

Leaders from Children's National Hospital, Virginia Tech, and Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC detailed how ambitious goals and strategic alignment were key to developing the new Children's National Research & Innovation Campus at last week's Healthcare Project Delivery Conference.

Tumors and centrosomes: Researchers receive grant to investigate cancer evolution

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 12:30:00 -0500

Unlike many of us during the COVID-19 pandemic, biological cells are not isolated from the outside world. This relationship between cell and environment also applies to the development of cancer, which a team of Virginia Tech scientists is now researching with the help of a grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC partners with Thermo Fisher Scientific, bringing state-of-the-art imaging equipment to Roanoke lab

The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC’s Fox Laboratory recently received a brand new scanning electron microscope, allowing for unprecedented visualization of cellular architecture with automated 3D reconstructions. The research institute collaborated with Thermo Fisher Scientific to purchase a state-of-the-art Thermo Scientific Volumescope. This equipment will help researchers at the institute continue to work at the frontiers of biomedical discovery to address cancer, neurological and behavioral disorders, and heart disease.

Of mice, men – and fish: Researchers find parallels in spread of human brain cancer cells in mammals, zebrafish

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 10:58:00 -0500

Scientists at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC have identified a new zebrafish model that could help advance glioblastoma multiforme research.

We asked our faculty: Why did you become a health scientist?

From art and medicine, to zoology and playing cricket - four faculty members at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC open up about the memories and moments that sparked their scientific curiosity and passion for health research.

Virginia Tech, Children’s National Hospital award $100,000 to fund collaborative cancer research pilot projects

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 14:10:00 -0500

Children’s National Hospital and Virginia Tech have awarded two $50,000 one-year pilot grants to multi-institutional teams of scientists for pediatric brain cancer research.

Tracking fluid flow in tumors, tissues drives new Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC scientist

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 08:43:00 -0500

Jennifer Munson is a biomedical engineer and one of a handful of scientists examining how interstitial flow – the flow of fluids in the spaces surrounding cells within human tissues – can aggravate cancers, accelerate Alzheimer’s disease, and effectively deliver drugs. She joined the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s primary faculty team this summer.

Shocking the cellular world: Engineers’ collaborative work discovers force signature of cells undergoing electroporation

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 08:37:00 -0500

Electroporation has been used in many medical applications, such as gene transfection and electrochemotherapy, since the 1980s. In this study, the researchers improved upon an established method of electroporation, in which medicines or genes are injected into holes formed in a cell’s membrane.

From Costa Rica to the National Human Genome Research Institute: Biochemist Ariana Umaña uses her family as inspiration

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 10:06:00 -0500

After graduation this winter, Umaña is going to work at the National Human Research Genome Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health.

Virginia Tech, Children’s National Hospital request proposals for new brain cancer research pilot grants

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 10:50:00 -0500

Children’s National Hospital and Virginia Tech launched a new pilot funding opportunity to advance brain cancer research. Two dual-institution teams will each be awarded a one-year, $50,000 grant.

Step Inside the New Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC Expansion in Roanoke

We welcome you to take a virtual tour through the new Fralin Biomedical Research Institute expansion. Michael Friedlander, Ph.D., Virginia Tech’s vice president for health sciences and technology, and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s founding executive director, will walk you through each wing, describing some of the latest instrumentation and research projects along the way.

Animal Cancer Care and Research Center opens for comprehensive care of dogs and cats

The Virginia Tech Animal Cancer Care and Research Center is a comprehensive cancer care and clinical research center offering integrated services, including medical, surgical, and radiation oncology, and frontline cancer diagnostics and treatment for dogs and cats.

Virginia Tech’s Animal Cancer Care and Research Center opening a grand occasion for region’s pets

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 13:00:00 -0500

Accommodating the relocation and expansion of the oncology service from the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Blacksburg, the brand-new Animal Cancer Care and Research Center is a vital part of the Virginia Tech Carilion Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, Virginia.

Virginia Tech scientists, engineers to talk about steps to stop cancer in virtual public session

Mon, 02 Nov 2020 10:21:00 -0500

A year ago, Virginia Tech united its biomedical and technical expertise into a Cancer Research Alliance to take on the second leading cause of death in the United States. Now, scientists and engineers will talk about some leading-edge projects in breast cancer, brain cancer, and noninvasive cancer treatments in a public Zoom discussion at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10.

The race against cancer’s clock: New study shows chronic jet lag impairs immune response, accelerates tumor growth

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 14:00:00 -0400

A new study led by Carla Finkielstein, an associate professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, and Diego Golombek, a professor at the National University of Quilmes, reveals that chronic jet lag impedes the body’s immune system and also changes the tumor microenvironment, favoring tumor growth.

Carla Finkielstein named Luther and Alice Hamlett Junior Faculty Fellow by Board of Visitors

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 12:31:00 -0400

The award provides support for outstanding faculty members who hold the rank of assistant or associate professor and whose work supports the missions of the college’s Academy of Integrated Science.

Fluid flow in the brain: Sorting the good and the bad

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 10:55:00 -0400

Ian Kimbrough, an assistant professor in the School of Neuroscience, and Jennifer Munson, an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, are taking research learned from brain tumors to help fight Alzheimer’s.

Researcher receives NIH grant to study noninvasive treatment for metastatic breast tumors

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 08:53:00 -0400

The aim of this project is to develop a novel, noninvasive method that combines nanoparticles with ultrasound to selectively target and kill cancerous cells in the breast tissue.

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute biotech spin-off seeks potential breast cancer treatment

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 10:18:00 -0400

Roanoke-based cancer research startup, Acomhal Research Inc., secured a $399,878 Small Business Technology Transfer grant to determine if a molecule that stalls the spread of invasive brain cancer stem cells can help treat aggressive forms of breast cancer.

Virginia Tech researchers discover that mouth bacterium may cause colon cancer to spread

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 14:00:00 -0400

A diverse array of bacteria live in the human mouth as part of a vital ecosystem known as the oral microbiome. Virginia Tech researchers have discovered that one of these common bacteria can leave the mouth and potentially cause existing cancer cells in other parts of the body to spread.

Researchers use cell imaging and mathematical modeling to understand cancer progression

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 14:40:00 -0400

Using a combination of experiments and mathematical modeling, a team of researchers from the Department of Biological Sciences and the Fralin Life Sciences Institute are beginning to unravel the mechanisms that lie behind tetraploidy - a chromosomal abnormality that is often found in malignant tumors.

Virginia Tech cancer researcher Carla Finkielstein to join Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 08:23:00 -0400

Finkielstein, a molecular biologist and an associate professor in the College of Science, will join the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC on July 1. Her laboratory, which studies how circadian rhythms are involved in breast cancer progression, will move to the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke.

Virginia Tech veterinary neurologist helps establish shared 'life history' of brain cancer in dogs and people

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 10:24:00 -0400

A team of researchers, including the veterinary college’s John Rossmeisl, the Dr. and Mrs. Dorsey Taylor Mahin Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery, analyzed tumor samples from dozens of gliomas in adults, children, and dogs and uncovered a remarkable degree of similarity between pediatric and canine tumors.

Michael A. Fox named new director of Virginia Tech School of Neuroscience

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 12:11:00 -0400

Fox, director of the Center for Neurobiology Research at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, will move from his current leadership position into a new role as director of the School of Neuroscience, taking over a position held by founding director Harald Sontheimer.

Sophisticated new scanner to aid cancer research, treatment for pets and people

Thu, 28 May 2020 11:56:00 -0400

The Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke began installation of a new CT scanner, which will be used to advance understanding of cancer in pets and in people.

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute expansion melds world-class research and sustainable architecture

From its meadow garden green roof to its underground rainwater cistern, the new research expansion located at 4 Riverside Circle in Roanoke is a model for smart green design. The building is currently being evaluated from the U.S. Green Building Council for a LEED Version 4 Rating.

Scientists reveal how brain tumors impact normally supportive cells

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 08:47:00 -0400

The same brain cells designed to stop brain damage fail to support healthy neurons when a cancer grows. New research, led by Stefanie Robel and Harald Sontheimer at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, reveals how gliomas alter astrocytes, a cell type that helps protect neurons and is crucial to preventing seizures.

Pioneering medical scientist will connect cancer care, reproductive health, and fertility at public lecture

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 09:08:00 -0500

The lecture by Teresa Woodruff, director of Northwestern University’s Women’s Health Research Institute, will not occur this week and will be rescheduled.

What's your science? - Maddie Turner

Maddie Turner loves the hands-on aspect of science and talks about her experience working in a lab.

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute expansion building moving forward

Take a peek inside the new VTC Biomedical Research Addition, a 139,000-square-foot building slated for a grand opening in fall 2020 at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute in Roanoke. The state-of-the-art facility will be home to at least 25 new teams of Virginia Tech biomedical researchers specializing in cardiovascular research, obesity and metabolism, body-device interfaces, cancer, and more. The building will also feature a green roof, classrooms, wet and dry lab space, offices, and a LINAC particle accelerator to help pets with cancer. Stay tuned for more updates as construction nears completion this spring!

Graduate student receives first Mitzi L. Frank Memorial Scholarship to support cancer research

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 08:37:00 -0500

The inaugural Mitzi L. Frank Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to Jesse Janoski, a first-year graduate student in the Department of Biological Sciences, who is researching cancer and circadian rhythms.

Global cancer expert to address how social inequities raise survival risks at Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture

Fri, 29 Nov 2019 19:00:00 -0500

Ophira Ginsburg, medical oncologist and executive director of the High-Risk Cancer Genetics Program at New York University’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, will discuss how social inequalities negatively impact cancer survival rates on Dec. 5 in Roanoke.

Scrappy McDaniel is a fighter

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 09:41:00 -0500

Experts in the latest advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, the veterinary college's oncology clinicians are dedicated to advancing health care in both animals and humans.

Children’s National Hospital, Virginia Tech announce partnership for new Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 04:00:00 -0500

The campus is an expansion of Children’s National that is located on a nearly 12-acre portion of the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and is set to open its first phase in December 2020.

HokieTalks: Cancer Research- Dogs lead the way for cures in humans

Nick Dervisis, Assistant Professor of Small Animal Clinical Sciences in the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, presented during the 2019 HokieTalks. Watch his talk, "Cancer Research: Dogs lead the way for cures in humans."

Researching how circadian rhythms influence cancer development

Associate Professor Carla Finkielstein, of the Department of Biological Sciences, and her team, which includes undergraduate Esther Wisdom, are researching how the 24-hour circadian rhythm influences cancer development. "Everything that we do has a face, and that face is the face of the patient," said Finkielstein.

Veterinary college’s clinical trials advance cancer care in pets and people

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 09:50:00 -0400

Thanks to collaborations between veterinary medicine, biomedical engineering, and cancer biology at Virginia Tech, the university is on the cusp of the next truly big breakthrough in treating cancer.

Virginia Tech announces expansive cancer research initiative

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 11:22:00 -0400

Virginia Tech has developed a university-wide cancer research strategy to create and expand synergies among more than 30 existing research teams at work finding new ways to diagnose and treat cancer.

Welcome to the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

Virginia Tech’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC is an exciting place to research, train, and work. Established in 2010, the research institute is doubling in size and is actively recruiting 20-25 new core research teams to join the Virginia Tech Health Sciences Campus in Roanoke, Virginia. For more information about the research institute and employment opportunities, please visit: www.research.vtc.vt.edu

Veterinary college’s Irving Coy Allen collaborates for a cause

Mon, 23 Sep 2019 09:43:00 -0400

Allen, an associate professor of inflammatory disease in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, weaves together Virginia Tech’s experts to conduct unprecedented health research.

Virginia Tech researchers receive NIH grant to look at how oral bacteria contributes to colorectal cancer

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 10:18:00 -0400

Colorectal cancer is the second most common form of cancer in the world, with rates about 30 percent higher in developed countries. It’s expected to cause 51,020 deaths in the United States during 2019.

Jess Gannon: Diving further into pancreatic cancer research

As a recipient of the Clare Boothe Luce Fellowship, Jess Gannon is taking a closer look at pancreatic cancer research through device development and histotripsy. She found a sense of community at Virginia Tech, where she combines her passions for math and science with a love for working with people.

Carla Finkielstein and team honored with award for research into circadian rhythms and cancer

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 11:33:00 -0400

A team of Virginia Tech researchers led by Finkielstein, an associate professor in the College of Science, has been honored with the 2019 J. Shelton Horsley Research Award from the Virginia Academy of Science.

Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine looks to expand reach, impact

Wed, 12 Jun 2019 11:02:00 -0400

At the June meeting of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors, Gregory B. Daniel, interim dean of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, outlined the college’s ongoing efforts, underscoring their alignment with the university’s goals, and discussed forthcoming programs and facilities.

Oncologic surgeon Joanne Tuohy joins veterinary college at Virginia Tech

Fri, 03 May 2019 11:34:00 -0400

Tuohy was recruited to Virginia Tech to develop a satellite surgery service that will be housed in the Comparative Oncology Research Center, a state-of-the-art clinical and research facility anticipated to open in 2020 as a vital part of the Virginia Tech Carilion Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, Virginia.

Ph.D. student uses computational biochemistry to tackle neurodegeneration, cancer, and premature aging

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 10:40:00 -0400

In December 2018, Alexa Salsbury, a Virginia Tech graduate student in the Department of Biochemistry, received the Bruce M. Anderson Graduate Award for the Outstanding First-Year Biochemistry Graduate Student.

Drug hunters awarded $2.8 million to develop a drug to treat multiple sclerosis

Fri, 08 Mar 2019 13:54:00 -0500

Webster Santos, professor of chemistry and the Cliff and Agnes Lilly Faculty Fellow in the College of Science at Virginia Tech, recently received a $2.8 million award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to discover drugs to inhibit a small molecule transporter.

Virginia Tech undergraduate biochemistry and biological sciences student wins Sigma Xi research grant

Wed, 20 Feb 2019 12:35:00 -0500

The grant awarded to Esther Wisdom, a junior in the Honors College, is one of 17 of the approved proposals submitted by undergraduate students. Overall, 12 percent of the grant applications were approved for funding.

Timing is everything: New discoveries in circadian rhythms provide insight into cancer treatment

Fri, 01 Feb 2019 09:49:00 -0500

Researchers, including Carla Finkielstein, are now discovering that molecules usually implicated in protecting us from cancer initiation and progression are directly involved in regulating the function of our daily circadian rhythms.

Virginia Tech alumnus donation strengthens fight against cancer

After fighting cancer for 10 years, Virginia Tech alumna Mitzi Frank died at the age of 41. Her husband, Ponch Frank, now strengthens his wife's fight with a donation from the Mitzi L. Frank Memorial Fund. The donation will fund the fellowship of a student in the Biocomplexity lab of Carla Finkielstein. The research of Finkielstein and her team delves deep into the connection of circadian rhythm and cancer development, as well as the best timing of cancer medications for the greatest impact.

Virginia Tech researchers create a bacteria-based drug delivery system that outperforms conventional methods

Wed, 19 Dec 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Researchers have developed a process to chemically attach nanoparticles of anti-cancer drugs onto attenuated bacteria cells, which they have shown to be more effective than the passive delivery of injections at reaching cancer sites.

Class of 2018: Kristin Eden brings animal and human health perspective in new role at Virginia Tech Carilion

Tue, 11 Dec 2018 00:00:00 -0500

In her role as an assistant professor in VTCSOM's Department of Basic Science Education, the three-time Hokie, veterinary pathologist, and researcher will teach medical students as well as conduct translational research in inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.

Researchers study parallels in how some cancer survivors and people with addiction value the future

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 00:00:00 -0500

People more recently diagnosed with cancer are more likely to drink alcohol, use tobacco, and frequent tanning beds than people in later stages of recovery, according to a research team from the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

New biomedical gel could ease pain in cervical cancer treatment

Mon, 26 Nov 2018 13:00:00 -0500

Tim Long, a professor of chemistry at Virginia Tech, and Tim Showalter, a radiation oncologist at UVA’s Cancer Center, are testing a gel that could be used during radiation treatment for cervical cancer.

New drug application stops spread of brain cancer cells caused by clinical treatment approach

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 05:03:00 -0500

This work is part of a five-year research grant project across multiple universities, examining the role of interstitial fluid flow in the spread of brain cancer cells.

Researchers discover insights into cellular surveillance pathway that may have implications for cancer treatment

Thu, 27 Sep 2018 12:00:00 -0400

Silke Hauf, an associate professor of biological sciences in the College of Science at Virginia Tech, studies a cellular surveillance pathway, or a cellular "checkpoint," that prevents cells from acquiring the wrong number of chromosomes.

Milk protein shown to alleviate chemotherapy side effects could enhance patients’ recovery

Tue, 25 Sep 2018 12:00:00 -0400

In a new paper published in the journal Food & Function, Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences researchers Susan Duncan and Aili Wang investigated the feasibility of lactoferrin, a protein found in saliva and milk, as a treatment for taste and smell abnormalities caused by chemotherapy.

VTCRI research team identifies a potential strategy in fight against brain cancer

Mon, 24 Sep 2018 13:00:00 -0400

Scientists with the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute say a gene involved in the body’s sleep cycle is a potential target for therapies to help patients with a deadly form of brain cancer known as glioblastoma.

Collaborative grant takes on brain cancer

Biomedical engineering and mechanics researcher Jennifer Munson and her team discuss their work examining interstitial fluid flow in brain cancer cell invasion. Munson has received a $2.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to collaborate with the University of Virginia and the University of Michigan over a five-year period.

Using Microfluidic Chips to Study Flow in the Brain

Collaborators from the University of Virginia visit BEAM researcher Jenny Munson for a little shared lab time. Using a microfluidic chip developed by Rebecca Pompano's lab, the researchers induced interstitial flow in small splices of brain. Eventually, they'll use these devices to study flow in glioblastoma, or brain cancer.

Virginia Tech graduate student pursues innovative microbe-based cancer therapy

Fri, 20 Jul 2018 00:00:00 -0400

Katherine Broadway, a Virginia Tech graduate student in the Department of Biological Sciences, is researching a cutting-edge, microbe-based cancer therapy as her dissertation project.

VTCRI scientist earns third concurrent grant from the National Cancer Institute to study breast cancer

Tue, 10 Jul 2018 00:00:00 -0400

Deb Kelly, who is also an associate professor of biological sciences in the College of Science at Virginia Tech, is working to better detect, prevent, and repair the mutations found in cancers related to the breast cancer susceptibility protein, BRCA1.

VTCRI scientists identify novel cellular mechanism that can lead to cancer metastasis

Tue, 29 May 2018 00:00:00 -0400

Scientists at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute have added a new dimension to the understanding of how cells alter their communication with one another during development, wound healing, and the spread of cancer.

First students earn degrees through innovative translational biology, medicine, and health program

Wed, 09 May 2018 00:00:00 -0400

The program is based on the Virginia Tech Carilion Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, and it positions students to conduct research in more than 50 departments and institutes across Virginia Tech.

Carmouche and Sheng receive 2018 VTCSOM Outstanding Research Mentor Awards

Wed, 04 Apr 2018 00:00:00 -0400

Students and alumni nominated individuals who provided clear expectations and high standards for students to conduct original hypothesis-driven research effectively and provide opportunities for professional growth.

VTCRI scientist awarded $2 million National Cancer Institute grant to study breast cancer

Thu, 29 Mar 2018 00:00:00 -0400

The National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health has awarded Deborah Kelly, an associate professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, $2 million to study the mutated form of the breast cancer susceptibility protein that is implicated in hereditary breast cancer.

Virginia Tech researchers examine role of fluid flow in ovarian cancer progression

Thu, 22 Mar 2018 15:00:00 -0400

Known as the silent killer, ovarian cancer is notorious for avoiding detection until it has progressed to an advanced stage. New research from Virginia Tech on fluid shear stress in the abdominal cavity is moving physicians closer to earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment.

Epigenomic tool breakthrough has implications for identifying disease processes

Fri, 09 Mar 2018 14:00:00 -0500

A major advancement has been made on how epigenomics are studied that permits mapping a genome-scale profile of epigenetic changes using less than a couple hundred cells, a factor of 100-300 reduction in the sample amount compared to existing alternatives.

Researchers discover molecular mechanism of hereditary, tumor-causing disease

Wed, 07 Mar 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome is a rare disease, affecting about one in every 36,000 people, according to the National Institutes of Health. People with the disorder have an increased risk for developing cancer, but a main concern is on the syndrome’s characteristic benign growths.

Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute scientists seek unfiltered truth about 'light' cigarettes

Tue, 06 Mar 2018 10:00:00 -0500

VTCRI scientists will focus on how ventilated filters on cigarettes, product packaging, and messaging have affected cigarette use, and also how alternative nicotine delivery systems — such as electronic cigarettes — can be used to modify smoking behavior.

Collaborative grant takes on brain cancer cell invasion

Thu, 01 Feb 2018 11:25:00 -0500

A relatively unexplored area of cancer research, interstitial fluid flow, or the movement of fluid around and through the three-dimensional space surrounding cells, has been shown to lead to an increase in cancer cell invasion. However, the mechanisms of how and why that happens, particularly in cases of brain cancer, are still unknown.

VTCRI scientists identify new target for developing precision treatment in malignant brain tumors

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Currently, no standard of care exists to prevent or treat recurrent malignant primary brain tumors in patients.

Virginia Tech biomedical spinoff cited for innovation by national university associations

Mon, 13 Nov 2017 12:00:00 -0500

Acomhal Research Inc., formed to fight a deadly type of brain cancer, is being recognized this week by the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities and the Association of American Universities.

Governor, Virginia Tech Carilion officials break ground on VTC Biomedical Research Expansion

Tue, 24 Oct 2017 15:30:00 -0400

The 139,000-gross-square-foot building will rise on the Virginia Tech Carilion Health Sciences and Technology Campus at Jefferson Street and Reserve Avenue and will be physically connected by an elevated walkway to the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute. It is expected to open in 2020.

Translational biology, medicine, and health doctoral student elected microscopy student council president

Mon, 25 Sep 2017 00:00:00 -0400

Cameron Varano conducts structural biology research in the laboratory of Deborah Kelly, an associate professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute and one of the biological sciences director for the MSA.

Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute scientists decode breast cancer protein

Wed, 20 Sep 2017 15:00:00 -0400

Their results, published this week in Science Advances, suggest a new paradigm for better managing the mutated BRCA1 protein found in triple-negative breast cancer cells. Triple-negative breast cancer is aggressive, as its tumor cells typically lack target receptors that allow cancer-fighting drugs to be effective.

Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute teams converge on strategies to defeat McCain’s form of brain cancer

Mon, 24 Jul 2017 00:00:00 -0400

Research teams at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute from three colleges — Engineering, Science, and Veterinary Medicine — are developing new approaches to treat glioblastoma, the aggressive form of brain cancer recently diagnosed in U.S. Sen. John McCain.

McCain’s form of cancer challenges treatment, Virginia Tech researchers say

Thu, 20 Jul 2017 00:00:00 -0400

Sontheimer and several other Virginia Tech scientists are available to discuss the latest research efforts to eradicate the world’s deadliest form of brain cancer. About half of glioblastoma patients die within the 12 to 18 months of diagnosis, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Third medical student earns St. Baldrick’s fellowship to study cancer at the VTC Research Institute

Mon, 17 Jul 2017 11:00:00 -0400

Lamvy Le is the third medical student at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine to receive the grant, which will support her research in therapies that could potentially treat pediatric brain cancer.

Virginia Tech to cosponsor VirginiaBrainRx Symposium in Charlottesville May 30-31

Thu, 25 May 2017 00:00:00 -0400

Organizer David Kingston said the idea of the consortium is to facilitate collaborative drug discovery, development, and delivery in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Andrea Kuliasha’s cancer research driven by personal experience

Tue, 09 May 2017 00:00:00 -0400

When her mother was diagnosed with cancer, Andrea Kuliasha threw herself into studying the disease. Those studies have guided her into a career path.

Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute assistant professor elected biological sciences director for the Microscopy Society of America

Mon, 10 Apr 2017 00:00:00 -0400

Deborah Kelly began her three-year commitment to the national society in February. As a director of biological sciences, Kelly works with the society’s executive council. The group is developing an outreach program with the goal of bringing early career scientists into the society.

Virginia Tech researcher seeks new ways to treat aggressive brain tumors

Mon, 10 Apr 2017 00:00:00 -0400

Scott Verbridge, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, is working on an innovative cancer treatment using the physical properties of tumors as effective alternative targets for next-generation therapies.

Researchers discover how breast cancer mutation in BRCA1 causes protein to self-destruct

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 16:30:00 -0500

Of the more than 3 million people with breast cancer in the United Stated, about 10 percent carry an inherited mutation in their BRCA1 gene. In health, the gene is responsible for suppressing tumors. In disease, the gene goes terribly awry.

Virginia Tech researchers help the body protect itself against inflammation and colon cancer

Wed, 25 Jan 2017 00:00:00 -0500

Researchers found that modifying the shape of IRAK-M, a protein that controls inflammation, can significantly reduce the clinical progression of both diseases in pre-clinical animal models.

Biocomplexity Institute researchers take Celldance film festival by storm

Thu, 08 Dec 2016 00:00:00 -0500

Daniela Cimini and her laboratory are one of three finalists chosen by the American Society of Cell Biology to showcase their research in a dramatic video at the film festival.

Virginia Tech and CytImmune Sciences create cancer therapy that reduces chemo side effects

Wed, 16 Nov 2016 07:00:00 -0500

Virginia Tech scientists, teaming with biotech firm CytImmune Sciences, have developed a cancer drug that uses gold nanoparticles and shows promise to be more effective and less harmful to body.

Virginia Tech awarded grant to help fortify coastal cities against natural disasters

Wed, 02 Nov 2016 00:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech engineers, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Miami, received a two-year, $500,000 National Science Foundation grant to design new computational, mathematical, and simulation frameworks to protect the critical infrastructure of coastal cities against natural disasters.

Nation’s leading environmental health sciences official to open Distinguished Public Lecture Series

Tue, 18 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0400

Linda S. Birnbaum, a toxicologist and the director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program, will discuss the interplay of environmental hazards and health Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute.

Virginia Tech, Georgetown team building computer models to prevent breast cancer regrowth

Tue, 04 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0400

William Baumann and his team are using experimental data on cancer cell lines grown in the laboratory in Georgetown as the basis for a mathematical model to design and test therapies to deter breast cancer recurrence.

Virginia Tech to spearhead $19.4 million effort to build new software institute dedicated to molecular, chemical computational modeling

Fri, 29 Jul 2016 00:00:00 -0400

The university will lead a new initiative to build a national team of software scientists to design and build new, powerful software tools, in what will be called the Molecular Sciences Software Institute.

Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute scientists are first to visualize breast cancer protein in precise detail

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 00:00:00 -0400

The team developed a “tunable” microchip that can capture proteins from human breast cancer cells to directly view them with high precision and to study how they function and interact with other molecules.

Rafael Davalos selected as American Society of Mechanical Engineers Fellow

Tue, 31 May 2016 00:00:00 -0400

Fellowship is the highest elected grade of the society’s membership.

Medical student earns 2 national fellowships to conduct brain cancer research

Wed, 27 Apr 2016 00:00:00 -0400

Pratik Kanabur said he will study new ways to potentially treat children’s malignant brain cancer with Assistant Professor Zhi Sheng at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute.

World-leading biological structure innovator to speak at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute

Wed, 20 Apr 2016 00:00:00 -0400

Sriram Subramaniam will present on, “Visualizing Biology in 3D: Why Does It Matter?” on April 21 at 5 p.m. in Roanoke.

Veterinary college's Nick Dervisis honored with 2016 Zoetis Award for Research Excellence

Tue, 19 Apr 2016 00:00:00 -0400

Since joining the veterinary college in 2012, veterinary oncologist Nick Dervisis has helped build a successful oncology service at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital .

Medical students to present four years of research at annual symposium

Mon, 21 Mar 2016 00:00:00 -0400

The third annual Medical Student Research Symposium at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine will feature the culmination of four years of research by 42 students.

Researcher's computational model of microtubules could explain basic mysteries of cells

Fri, 08 Jan 2016 10:53:44 -0500

Researchers find way to make resistant brain cancer cells sensitive to treatment

Mon, 16 Nov 2015 00:00:00 -0500

Scientists from the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute and clinicians from Carilion Clinic have discovered how to sensitize drug-resistant human glioblastoma cells to chemotherapy.

Proposed School of Neuroscience expected to attract large interest from undergraduates

Wed, 11 Nov 2015 00:00:00 -0500

Virginia Tech’s proposed School of Neuroscience is closer to opening after Board of Visitors' approval. “This is a step in Virginia Tech’s development into a 21st century land grant university. Every discipline grounded in human decision-making and human interaction will be transformed by our rapidly expanding understanding of how the brain works. Students across the disciplines who participate in our neuroscience curriculum will be in positions to lead in their chosen fields.”

Scientists find a small tweak may make a big difference in immune cell development

Tue, 03 Nov 2015 00:00:00 -0500

Scientists at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute have discovered that even a small shift in environmental factors can change how a cell in the immune system matures.

Scientist receives grant to study underpinnings of hard-to-treat, hereditary breast cancer

Fri, 11 Sep 2015 00:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute scientist awarded $1.8 million grant to study structure of BRCA1 proteins and mutations.

Virginia Tech Magazine explores the fight against cancer, remembers the late President Emeritus Paul Torgersen

Thu, 30 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400

The summer 2015 edition of Virginia Tech Magazine explores the university community's various roles in the fight against cancer; remembers the life and career of the late Paul Torgersen, Virginia Tech's president from 1994 through 2000; overviews campus construction projects to improve traffic flow; and examines a catapult-like device designed by the Virginia Tech chapter of the Society of American Military Engineers.

New technology helps personalized medicine by enabling epigenomic analysis with a mere 100 cells

Tue, 28 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400

A new technology that will dramatically enhance investigations of epigenomes, the machinery that turns on and off genes and a very prominent field of study in diseases such as stem cell differentiation, inflammation and cancer, is reported on today in the research journal Nature Methods.

2015 Illuminator Award recipients announced

Thu, 04 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0400

Scientists visualize potential brain cancer treatments in real time

Fri, 10 Apr 2015 00:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute scientists have developed new imaging techniques to watch dangerous brain tumor cells respond to treatment in real time.

Bahareh Behkam wins National Science Foundation award to develop new methods to combat cancer

Tue, 24 Feb 2015 00:00:00 -0500

Innovative work on bacteria-based cancer therapy has earned Bahareh Behkam, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech, a 2015 National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award of $505,000.

A dog lives on; now the stage is being set for treating humans

Thu, 19 Feb 2015 00:00:00 -0500

Almost five years ago, a 7-year old Labrador Retriever was operated on using a technique eventually patented by Virginia Tech biomedical engineering faculty member Rafael Davalos. The pet suffered from a cancerous mass in the brain, and all other forms of treatment had been exhausted. The operation eradicated the malignant tumor, and follow up examinations of the canine proved the procedure’s success.

Going viral: Targeting brain cancer cells with a wound-healing drug

Mon, 05 Jan 2015 00:00:00 -0500

At the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, three scientists are planning to create a virus capable of destroying brain cancer. It sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but it isn’t hypothetical – the researchers were recently awarded a grant from the Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund, part of the Center for Innovative Technology, to engineer a viral therapy.

Advances in 'tumor engineering' lead to grant to improve drug therapy

Mon, 20 Oct 2014 00:00:00 -0400

Biomedical engineer Scott Verbridge of Virginia Tech is working on the better understanding of the responses of experimental tumor tissues to chemotherapy drugs. As a result, the National Institutes of Health has awarded him $406,000 to further investigate the emergence of chemoresistance in engineered tumors.

Companion animal clinical trials underway at the veterinary college, new clinical trials website launched

Mon, 04 Aug 2014 00:00:00 -0400

Researchers to study mechanisms of hard-to-solve, hereditary breast cancer to find treatment option

Tue, 29 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute scientists to investigate BRCA1-related cancers.

Researchers test cutting-edge treatment for stubborn skin tumors

Tue, 12 Nov 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and the Virginia Tech-Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Science have joined forces to find an effective treatment for sarcoids, a form of skin tumor that is usually benign.

Drug patch treatment sees new breakthrough under watch of Virginia Tech biomedical engineer

Mon, 16 Sep 2013 00:00:00 -0400

A Virginia Tech - Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering researcher has developed a flexible microneedle patch that allows for easy drug delivery.

Scott Verbridge uses micro-fabricated blood vessels to study tumor growth and anti-angiogenic cancer therapy

Wed, 31 Jul 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Researchers have established a 3-D microfluidic system to study a biological process known as endothelial sprouting. This process represents an early step in new blood vessel growth called angiogenesis.

National Institutes of Health awards new study in cancer research to Chang Lu

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Progress made in the technology development for studying protein-DNA interactions, conducted by Chang Lu, associate professor of chemical engineering and a core faculty member of the School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences at Virginia Tech, has led to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarding a new project to continue his groundbreaking work.

Scientists image nanoparticles in action

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

A newly developed technique captures the movements of nanoparticles in a liquid environment with atomic resolution.

Virginia Tech study finds virus promising for prostate cancer treatment

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Researchers at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine have discovered that a genetically engineered Newcastle disease virus, which harms chickens but not humans, kills prostate cancer cells of all kinds, including hormone-resistant cancer cells.

Cylindrical cell structure parts may aid in targeting diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Biology professor Jianhua Xing and his colleagues are trying to learn how microtubules work. The knowledge may aid them in finding ways to fight cancer, and Huntington's, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases.

Virginia Tech research magazine reports on saving wildlife, recovering coal from slurry ponds, treating brain tumors, who is running the country

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Several articles in the winter 2012 research magazine are described.

Key information about breast cancer risk and development is found in 'junk' DNA

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Techulon licenses technology that integrates diagnostics with therapeutics

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

A local company has licensed a product tha delivers genetic medicine to cells and can be tracked visually to diagnose and treat cancer.

New cancer therapy appears promising in pre-clinical trials

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

A new method for treating breast cancer is showing early promise in pre-clinical trials.

Chemist to donate potential pharmaceutical royalties to developing country

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

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Tags

Meet the Virginia Tech trainees looking to break into biotech commercialization

Seeing brain tumors through a neuroscience lens

Cancer prevention: Can future-focused thinking help smokers quit?

National Cancer Institute grants support study of fluid flow in deadly brain tumors

High school student takes on pediatric cancer

Researcher advances new approach to blood cancer treatment

Research awards strengthen communities, Virginia, and the nation

Predicting where a deadly brain cancer might go next

Veterinary college students showcase innovative research in summer research program

Hard-to-treat cancers respond to combination therapy using a new class of drugs

Scientists uncover immune cells that help prostate cancer resist treatment and a way to stop them

Could a creatine boost help the brain? Virginia Tech scientists test new ultrasound therapy

‘Every time we wait, we lose someone who might have made it’

Cancer Researchers Spurred to Move Faster at the Cancer Research Symposium

Lymph node on a chip: New immune system model developed to enhance precision medicine research

Virginia Tech researchers find promise in a new peptide drug to combat a deadly brain cancer

Clinical trial at Virginia Tech provides dog with comfort and innovative treatment that could help other pets with cancer

Class of 2025: Thomas Lu named Outstanding Senior for the Bradley Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Brotherly bond sparks biomedical impact

Pet iguana successfully treated for cancer at Virginia Tech animal cancer center

AI-backed saliva test shows promise for flagging chemotherapy risk, early results indicate

Researchers investigate low-intensity electrical pulses to help the immune system fight cancer

‘Milestone’ discovery may unlock the true biomedical might of exosomes

Big dog, even bigger mission

Finding community and focus in interdisciplinary cancer research

'Curious Conversations' podcast: Eli Vlaisavljevich talks about the cancer-fighting bubbles of histotripsy

Histotripsy: What is it and how does it work?

What is histotripsy and how does it work?

Children’s National Hospital, Virginia Tech expand research partnership to advance pediatric health

Graduate student’s research goal: Improve outcomes for brain cancer patients

John Robertson honored with emeritus status

New Virginia Tech cancer researcher seeks to understand and predict deadly tumor metastasis

Virginia Tech researcher receives collaborative grant to improve cancer therapies

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute spinoff company translates science into peptide drugs targeting cancer stem cells

Virginia Tech researchers find menthol restrictions may drive smokers to healthier alternatives

Virginia Tech students named 2024 Astronaut Scholars

Cancer researcher wants to make treatment better, more accessible

Scientist awarded National Institutes of Health grant to examine cancer-related enzyme

From Chile to Virginia: Ph.D. research improves brain tumor measurement in dogs

New technique could help treat aggressive brain tumors

Dog's journey at Animal Cancer Care and Research Center inspires owners, clinical professionals

Research identifies possible new pathway to treatment of colorectal cancer

Researchers find flavor restrictions affect tobacco buyers differently depending on socioeconomic status

Ilektra Athanasiadi finds rewards in using radiation therapy to treat pets with cancer

Focusing on ultrasound research at Virginia Tech

Dogs play a key role in veterinary college’s brain cancer trial

Expert provides sun safety tips for Skin Cancer Awareness month

Researchers reveal promising treatment target for resistant brain cancer

Virginia Tech Animal Cancer Care and Research Center celebrates continuing support from Petco Love for canine and feline cancer treatments

Testing for residual cancer cells before blood cell transplant therapy is important and practical, new study finds

2024 Relay For Life at Virginia Tech

Researchers develop a new way to safely boost immune cells to fight cancer

Virginia Tech professor to be inducted into prestigious American Society for Clinical Investigation

New research aims to use AI to make cancer diagnostics for pets more available and affordable

Monet Roberts receives inaugural Henrietta Lacks Legacy award

Histotripsy lab creates meaningful sound for local artist

Data visualization aids Virginia Tech cancer researcher’s quest for better brain tumor treatment

2023 marks a year of firsts for Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program

Virginia Tech faculty inducted as Biomedical Engineering Society fellows

Oral cancer clinical trial offers hope to dogs and their owners

Pioneering histotripsy device receives FDA clearance to treat liver cancer

New cancer drug shows promise in targeting genetic weakness in tumors, Virginia Tech expert says

Virginia Tech and Weizmann Institute of Science tackle cell migration on fibers

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute researchers take on public health challenge of hepatitis C

Henrietta Lacks statues unveiled where her legacy thrives

Carla Finkielstein named Roger H. Moore and Mojdeh Khatam-Moore Dean’s Faculty Fellow

Landmark $50 million gift to dramatically expand health sciences research at Virginia Tech

Landmark $50 million gift to dramatically expand health sciences research at Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech outlines ambitious strategy to spearhead cancer research and elevate university's global standing

Helen the cane corso helps humans and animals through osteosarcoma clinical trial

Nain lab partners with researchers in Japan and Israel to put cancer cells on a tightrope

2023 Virginia Tech Cancer Research Alliance Retreat

Joining forces: Virginia Tech Cancer Research Alliance scientists to share ideas, innovations

Cancer researchers team up against deadliest brain tumors in children

Cancer researchers team up against deadliest brain tumors in children

2023 Relay for Life at Virginia Tech raises over $200,000

Clinical trials unite veterinary oncologists with pet owners to help unravel cancer mysteries

Golden retriever’s cancer treatment gives veterinary student perspective as pet owner

Physicists model cell migration to learn how cancer cells navigate tissue