Synthetic Biology for Molecular Imaging in Cancer Workshop
Molecular imaging is an integral part of oncology research and plays critical roles in cancer detection, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring.
Research Challenges
Despite recent advances in imaging resolution and quality, the complexity of tumor evolution requires improved accuracy and precision in molecularly targeted imaging. These improvements will allow us to observe functional changes in a tumor and its microenvironment. In addition, developing site-specific and target-oriented delivery of imaging probes and tools is a challenge.
New Opportunities
The rapid progress of synthetic biology offers new opportunities to design novel imaging agents and platforms for precision imaging by:
- Centering on engineering biologics with expanded and enhanced properties to perform novel functions through synthesizing innovative molecules and repurposing naturally existing molecules and structures
- Emphasizing precise control with iterative design and refinement to engineer modular and responsive biological elements that can predictably produce any given input
- Advancing research tools such as molecular diagnostics and dynamic sensors while using principles developed in the last decade that aid treatment
To enhance the impact of synthetic biology on molecular cancer imaging, the NCI Cancer Imaging Program convened a two-day virtual workshop (April 22-23, 2024) on Synthetic Biology for Molecular Imaging in Cancer.
Workshop Highlights
Attendee Tasks
- Evaluate the potential of synthetic bioengineering methodologies to advance molecular cancer imaging for research and clinical application
- Identify new opportunities, delineate the key challenges, and develop strategies to overcome these challenges
- Spur discussion and collaboration among scientists to match synthetic bioengineering design principles with agent and tool development in cancer imaging
Scientific Session Topics
- Development of engineered synthetic sensing and information processing technologies
- Synthetic immunity to cancer
- Cell-specific targeted nucleic acid nanomedicine
- Biomolecular ultrasound for deep tissue imaging and the creation of sensitive reporters and bioresponsive sensors through synthetic gene circuits
- Synthetic organelles for cellular imaging and actuation
- Programmable cell behavior using synthetic G protein-coupled receptors
- Orthogonal protein tags for imaging and controlling engineered immune cells
Discussion Topics
- Molecular-genetic imaging for cancer immunotherapies
- Synthetic biomarkers for early cancer detection
- Engineered microorganisms as cancer drug delivery systems
- Next-generation therapeutics
- Engineered antibodies for imaging in oncology and immunology
- Immune cell reporter systems for molecular imaging.
- Evolution of molecular imaging tools from research to clinical application, including strategies to enhance imaging features through circulating tumor DNA
Workshop Recordings and Presentation Sessions
Recordings
Day 1 (Sessions 1 and 2); Day 2 (Sessions 3, 4, and 5)
Session 1: Applications of Synthetic Biology in Medicine
Chair: Joshua Leonard; NIH Moderator: Jerry Li, NCI
| Presenter | Presentation |
|---|---|
| Joshua Leonard, Northwestern University | Opportunities and technologies for engineered synthetic sensing and information processing |
| Kole Roybal, UC San Francisco | Toward the development of synthetic immunity to cancer |
| Hamideh Parhiz, University of Pennsylvania | Cell-specific targeted nucleic acid nanomedicine in oncology and beyond |
| Wilson Wong, Boston University | Engineering vaccines, cell and gene therapies using synthetic biology |
| Kevin McHugh, Rice University | Using genome editing to convert oncogenic mutations to unique protein biomarkers |
| Chaired by Joshua Leonard, Northwestern University | Panel Discussion |
Session 2: Synthetic Biology in Molecular Imaging
Chair: Mikhail Shapiro; NIH Moderator: Yisong Wang, NCI
| Presenter | Presentation |
|---|---|
| Mikhail Shapiro, Caltech | Talking to cells: biomolecular ultrasound for deep tissue cellular imaging and biosensing |
| Jerzy Szablowski, Rice University | Accelerating the therapeutic discovery through noninvasive monitoring of the brain |
| Arnab Mukherjee, UC Santa Barbara | Harnessing synthetic gene circuits to create sensitive reporters and bioresponsive sensors for deep-tissue imaging |
| Christopher Contag, Michigan State University | Engineering synthetic organelles as cellular imaging and actuating agents |
| Nicholas Kalogriopoulos, Stanford University | Synthetic G protein-coupled receptors for programmable sensing and control of cell behavior |
| Chaired by Mikhail Shapiro, Caltech | Panel Discussion |
Session 3: Molecular Imaging in Synthetic Biology
Chair: Mark Sellmyer; NIH Moderator: Tatjana Atanasijevic, NIBIB
| Presenter | Presentation |
|---|---|
| Mark Sellmyer, University of Pennsylvania | Imaging and controlling engineered immune cell biology with an orthogonal protein tag |
| John Ronald, Western University, Canada | Molecular-genetic imaging of synthetic receptor cancer immunotherapies |
| Gabe Kwong, Georgia Institute of Technology | Bioengineering synthetic biomarkers for earlier cancer detection |
| Tetsuhiro Harimoto, Harvard University | Engineering bacteria as living cancer drug delivery systems |
| Tim Lu, MIT | Synthetic biology for next-generation therapeutics |
| Chaired by Mark Sellmyer, University of Pennsylvania | Panel Discussion |
Session 4: Translational Potential and Clinical Needs: Opportunities and Challenges
Chair: Anna Wu; NIH Moderator: Charles Lin, NCI
| Presenter | Presentation |
|---|---|
| Anna Wu, City of Hope | Engineered antibodies for imaging in oncology and immunology: From preclinical models to patients |
| David Wilson, UC San Francisco | Antigen-dependent inducible T-cell reporter system for PET imaging of breast cancer and glioblastoma |
| Vladimir Ponomarev, MSKCC | Evolution of reporter tools for molecular imaging: from bench to bed |
| Laura Van‘t Veer, UC San Francisco | Strategies to augment imaging features by circulating tumor DNA assessment |
| David Piwnica-Worms, MD Anderson Cancer Center | Translation of [18F]4FN, a redox-tuned radiopharmaceutical for PET imaging of innate immunity activation |
| Chaired by Anna Wu, City of Hope | Panel Discussion |
Session 5: NCI Resources and Funding Opportunities
Chiayeng Wang and Kelly Crotty, NCI
Workshop Organizers
Mikhail Shapiro (Co-Lead; Caltech)
Charles Lin (Co-Lead; Cancer Imaging Program, DCTD, NCI)
Chiayeng Wang (Cancer Imaging Program, DCTD, NCI)
Kelly Crotty (Center for Strategic Scientific Initiatives/Office of the Director, NCI)
Jerry Li (Division of Cancer Biology, NCI)
Yisong Wang (Cancer Imaging Program, DCTD)
Tatjana Atanasijevic (National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering)
Contact