Current Research Description

My laboratory is interested in developing and studying targeted therapeutics for non-CNS solid tumors in children, particularly sarcomas and neuroblastoma. Our efforts are primarily focused on the development of oncolytic virotherapy as well as small molecule targeted inhibitors. Active projects include studies of the mechanism and enhancement of tumor-selective virus delivery for metastatic disease, the role and manipulation of regulatory T cells in the antiviral and antitumor immune response, the utility of incorporating therapeutic transgenes to modify the tumor microenvironment, the effect of small molecule inhibitors combined with oncolytic virus infection, and the effect of oncolytic viruses on cancer stem cells.