MCubed, the University of Michigan's one-of-a-kind funding program designed to spark innovative research without traditional peer review, is wrapping up its first cycle in December. 

Every day, organ transplant patients around the world take a drug called rapamycin to keep their immune systems from rejecting their new kidneys and hearts. New research suggests that the same drug could help brain tumor patients by boosting the effect of new immune-based therapies.

In experiments in animals, researchers from the U-M Medical School showed that adding rapamycin to an immunotherapy approach strengthened the immune response against brain tumor cells.

What's more, the drug also increased the immune system's "memory" cells so that they could attack the tumor if it ever reared its head again. The mice and rats in the study that received rapamycin lived longer than those that didn't.

Now, the U-M team plans to add rapamycin to clinical gene therapy and immunotherapy trials to improve the treatment of brain tumors. Pedro Lowenstein, M.D., Ph.D. is a co-author and leads the current clinical trial.  

"We had some indication that rapamycin would enhance the cytotoxic T cell effect, from previous experiments in both animals and humans showing that the drug produced modest effects by itself," says Maria Castro, Ph.D., senior author of the new paper.

"But in combination with immunotherapy, it became a dramatic effect, and enhanced the efficacy of memory T cells too. This highlights the versatility of the immunotherapy approach to glioma," says Castro, who is the R.C. Schneider Collegiate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery and a professor of cell and developmental biology at U-M.

Castro notes that if the drug proves useful in human patients, it could also be used for long-term prevention of recurrence in patients who have had the bulk of their tumor removed.

An anti-inflammatory treatment, studied in the labs of regenerative medicine specialists and trauma surgeons, may prevent what's become one of the war-defining injuries for today's troops.

Those burned by high-velocity explosive devices are at-risk for heterotopic ossification (HO), in which bone develops in places it shouldn't be, outside the skeleton, in joints, muscles, and tendons. The painful condition can make it difficult to move and function and commonly affects patients who suffer burns, automobile accidents, orthopedic surgery and blast injuries, and other combat wounds.

Research led by the University of Michigan Health System sheds light on how and why HO develops and reveals a potential method to interrupt the cell signaling that leads to abnormal bone growth.

Using tissue from burn patients and a mouse model of trauma-induced HO, researchers analyzed the body's response to burn injury. They confirmed the link between burn injury and activity of ATP, a primary energy source for cells that, when elevated, can make reactions normally impossible in biological conditions, possible--such as ectopic, or abnormal, bone.

By using an apyrase, a compound capable of breaking down ATP, researchers were able to reduce heterotopic ossification, according to study findings published in Science Translational Medicine.

"These findings are exciting and suggest that localized anti-inflammatory treatment may help prevent future development of ectopic bone, even at sites distant from the trauma," says lead study author Benjamin Levi, M.D. Levi, along with  Stewart Wang, M.D., Ph.D. and Director of Burn Surgery at the U-M Health System, worked with surgery, public health, chemistry, bioengineering, and dental faculty at the U-M on the current study.

The deadline is quickly approaching for SBIR/STTR proposal submissions. All submissions are due by November 5, 2014, at 4:30 EST.

Interested in one-on-one consultation with an FFMI team member about a possible SBIR/STTR proposal? Contact Casey Wegner at cjwegner@umich.edu. Plus, BBC right here in Ann Arbor offers a number of training classes and webinars that can help you prepare your proposal. CLICK HERE for more details.

With the recent release of data regarding drug and device company payments to teaching hospitals and physicians, the nation is paying increased attention to the relationships between major medical centers and the companies that make medical products. The University of Michigan Medical School has implemented a number of programs and policies that foster appropriate industry relationships that support our clinical, educational, and research missions.  CLICK HERE for more details on the UMHS approach to industry interaction.

The Fast Forward Medical Innovation team at the University of Michigan Medical School works to accelerate innovation and commercialization of research at its inception, collaborate with commercial partners via novel models, and enhance medical education by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship at all levels. We help UMMS faculty and strategic partners collaborate, with the ultimate goal of accelerating research and technology to improve human health. To connect, email us or call 734-615-5060.