Dr. Daniel Pomeranz Krummel and Dr. Soma Sengupta are co-authors of a new publication in Advanced Healthcare Materials detailing the development and validation of an ex vivo model of what is commonly called a glioblastoma-on-chip microdevice.

A glioblastoma-on-chip microdevice can be used to study the development and biology of glioblastoma, the most aggressive brain tumor, and has the potential to be used in a personalized medicine approach to screen therapeutic efficacy of a patient’s tumor. “Dr. Sengupta and I have been fortunate to help contribute to the development of this work,” said Dr. Pomeranz Krummel.

The publication is the result of several years of research by Dr. Riccardo Barrile, Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati, and his doctoral student, Sirjana Pun.

Dr. Pomeranz Krummel and Dr. Sengupta want to utilize ultrasound technology and the chip microdevice to treat brain tumors at UNC Health. Ultrasound is currently used to treat other neurological diseases, including movement disorders, at UNC Health. “Dr. Barrile, Dr. Sengupta, and I, and a colleague at the University of Cincinnati, Professor Kevin Haworth whose expertise is ultrasound, are hoping to integrate the chip technology to create another level of personalized technology to aid brain tumor treatment,” said Dr. Pomeranz Krummel.

Dr. Sengupta is hopeful that this technology can be utilized to treat patients with glioblastoma at UNC Health. “It provides a rapid high throughput system of not only testing drugs but potential immunotherapies with the patient’s own cancer cells,” said Dr. Sengupta. “This technology has been used for GBM, and Dr Barrile has used this technology for lung cancer.”

About Dr. Daniel Pomeranz Krummel and Dr. Soma Sengupta
Dr. Daniel Pomeranz Krummel and Dr. Soma Sengupta’s joint lab’s research focuses on the development of approaches to improve treatment of malignant brain tumors, both primary and metastatic, and improve patient outcomes. Dr. Soma Sengupta is a physician-scientist, Division Chief of Neuro-oncology at UNC Health, Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Neurosurgery at UNC Health, and is a clinical trialist specializing in brain tumor treatment and research with over 90 publications on clinical trials, case reports, lab-based research, and healthcare policy. Both Dr. Pomeranz Krummel and Dr. Sengupta are members of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Article by: Makenzie Hardy, Marketing Coordinator, UNC Health Department of Neurosurgery