Recent Highlights

Some of the investigational therapies we are developing include nanosyringes (especially their role in delivering highly targeted cellular drug pump blockers), mitochondrial-based “smart bomb” chemotherapy and gene therapy for treatment of glioblastomas, the most common and most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor in humans. Through our research, we are also attempting to understand the physics of mass transport within a cancer lesion and mass exchanges between cancer and surrounding host biology in order to create better nanomedicine treatments for cancer. We use several core facilities to advance our research goals; Molecular Diagnostics, Nanoengineering and Peptidomics-Nanoengineering to name just a few.

 

49

Neurosurgery Faculty With Academic Appointments
 

29

Active Clinical Trials

98

Peer-Reviewed Publications in 2024
Recent Highlights
Through our research, we are also attempting to understand the physics of mass transport within a cancer lesion and mass exchanges between cancer and surrounding host biology in order to create better nanomedicine treatments for cancer. We use several core facilities to advance our research goals; Molecular Diagnostics, Nanoengineering and Peptidomics-Nanoengineering to name just a few.
Graphic rendering of mitochondria, the energy powerhouse for neural cells.
Dr. David Baskin explains how a cancerous glioma is tricked into taking in a damaging drug

Peak center director and neurosurgeon David Baskin, MD, explains how to trick a glioma to take a damaging drug..

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David Baskin, MD explains how nanosyringes can target drug delivery to a single cancer cell

Our scientists at the center, in collaboration with Nobel Laureate Richard E. Smalley, PhD and James Tour, PhD of Rice University, have developed a form of nanosyringe to treat malignant tumors. Learn more about this nanotechnology research in targeting the delivery of chemotherapy which attacks the cancer cells without poisoning the body.

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Matthew Futer talks about his experience at Houston Methodist

Patient Matthew Futer, diagnosed with glioblastoma, shares his story. Read more about the result of the Phase 1b study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology article.

Immune cells positive for a protein, S100A4 (in green) could be a potential therapeutic target for restoring antitumor action of immune cells toward glioblastomas.
Dr. David Baskin explains how inserting a modified cold virus in the brain can kill glioblastoma

This gene therapy approaches uses a common cold virus as shuttle to deliver conditionally active herpes virus DNA directly into brain cancer cells. After delivery of 10 injections of the altered cold virus into the margins of a tumor, the virus spreads rapidly through the tumor.

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