Ohio State researchers enter into a federal collaborative agreement to develop radiation biodosimetry solutions

Ohio State researchers enter into a federal collaborative agreement to develop radiation biodosimetry solutions

Researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and the Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) have entered into a federal collaborative agreement worth up to $9.42 million that will help them advance Ohio State's biodosimetry discovery technology non-invasive biomarker of radiation exposure – work that will have national security applications.

Naduparambil Jacob of the OSUCCC – James serves as the principal investigator of this research effort in partnership with the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), an organization within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

The agreement is consistent with IARPA's stated mission to "expand the boundaries of science to develop solutions that enable the intelligence community to do its national security work better and more efficiently."

This new research collaboration agreement is organized through the IARPA Targeted Evaluation of Ionizing Radiation Exposure (IARPA – TEI-REX) program and includes four major awardees, with Jacob serving as principal investigator of the OSU-led program, of which the Battelle Memorial Institute is a subdivision. Prize winner.

“This work is particularly important because of the potential serious health consequences of radiation exposure, including cancer and other diseases,” said Jacob, an associate professor in the department of radiation oncology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and a member of the OSUCCC – James Translational Therapeutics research program.

“Being able to determine the amount and area of ​​exposure would help clinicians more quickly and accurately mitigate the short- and long-term effects of cumulative radiation exposure,” Jacob said.

Led by Jacob, the OSUCCC-James team will work to develop rapid and accurate radiation biodosimetry solutions for human radiation exposure based on biomarkers detectable in skin and hair that can be collected non-invasively.

The project builds on ongoing efforts by OSUCCC-James scientists to develop blood biomarker-based mechanisms for early detection of acute radiation syndromes and late effects.

In 2020, Jacob and colleagues published data demonstrating the effectiveness of a novel miRNA-based biodosimetry test designed to quickly diagnose radiation sickness using biomarkers measured by a single drop of blood. This test was selected by NASA to support the development of space exploration capabilities as part of Project Polaris, an initiative aimed at meeting the challenges of sending humans back to the Moon and Mars.

Expanding research on radiation exposure

This new joint research effort aims to develop a non-invasive method to quickly and accurately measure radiation exposure through biomarkers detectable in skin and hair, which could be particularly useful and impactful in military settings.

While previous studies in this area have focused on blood biomarkers, this initiative will examine Raman spectroscopy and mass spectrometry-based methods and changes in the microbiome.

Scientists note that radiation exposure through accidental contact with radioactive material (e.g. in the natural environment or at work) or through intentional release of a radioactive material (e.g. terrorist attack) can cause serious health problems.

Radioactive contamination released into the environment can take many forms with varying levels of hazard. Some exposures may not show visible clinical signs, particularly at the lower dose range, but have significant delayed consequences and early detection and risk assessment would allow timely mitigation.”

Naduparambil Jacob, OSUCCC – James

Researchers will use samples collected from laboratory models exposed to X-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, electrons and protons for testing and validation. Samples from irradiated non-human primates, radiation therapy patients and humans exposed to low-dose X-rays during CT scans will also be evaluated in the study.

The IARPA-funded project will support a multidisciplinary team of up to 20 people from three different Ohio State colleges and data scientists from Battelle Memorial Institute over the next 42 months.

Source:

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

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