Jianmei Leavenworth, M.D., Ph.D., was recently featured in the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) 2021 Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Highlights.

Leavenworth has long supported the robust glioma research efforts in the UAB Department of Neurosurgery and at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB. Gliomas are the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults.

Leavenworth’s most recent research has led her to participate in a phase 1 clinical trial, alongside other faculty members, that tests oncolytic virotherapy as a way to treat brain cancer through immunotherapy. According to the CDMRP highlight, using IL12-oHSV– a genetically engineered oncolytic herpes simplex virus– as a therapy induces a unique immune cell response to enhance anti-glioma activity.

Leavenworth looks forward to examining IL12-oHSV therapy as a way to promote the body’s natural immune response to fighting gliomas.

“In initial studies, we found a patient’s tumor tissue displayed the presence of immune cells that we want to be around the tumor, in order to fight it,” said Leavenworth. “We do think that IL12-oHSV therapy, in early studies, has shown some promise in eliciting the anti-tumor response we are looking for. We hope that research from the phase 1 clinical trial sheds light on the potential of this therapy to treat gliomas.”

To read more about Leavenworth’s initial research on this clinical trial, click here.