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Samuel Rabkin, Ph.D.

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Mentoring
Available: 01/18/21, Expires: 05/31/24

Research opportunities (in-person participation) for medical students, preferably with some laboratory-based research experience, in the Brain Tumor Research Center, Simches Research Building, MGH.

Our laboratory focuses on the use of oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) vectors for cancer therapy of brain tumors, especially glioblastoma. A number of different vector strategies are being developed: (i) oHSV vectors mutated in different viral genes to target the cancer cell phenotype due to physiologic/signaling pathway differences with 'normal' cells; (ii) recombinant oHSV vectors expressing therapeutic transgenes; and (iii) transcriptionally-regulated oHSV vectors that are targeted by cancer-specific gene expression. These vectors are characterized in a range of tumor models; human tumor xenografts in nude mice, mouse tumors in immunocompetent mice, and cancer stem cells.

We are exploring a number of therapeutic oHSV strategies: (i) synergistic combinations with chemotherapeutics and molecularly targeted drugs; (ii) targeting the tumor microenvironment using 'armed' oHSV; and (iii) immunotherapy approaches, including combinations with immune modulatory agents.

Available: 01/16/24, Expires: 09/30/25

We are developing oncolytic herpes simplex viruses (oHSVs) for cancer therapy, in particular for glioblastoma. We have isolated a spontaneously arising 'large plaque' mutant of oHSV. This mutant needs to be characterized in depth, both in vitro and in vivo. This includes bioinformatic analysis of genome sequences and RNA expression in infected cells to identify the sequence alterations responsible for the phenotype and the mechanism of action. In vitro, the biology of the mutant and its impact on cancer and normal cells will be studied. In vivo, the efficacy of the mutant in glioblastoma stem-like cell tumor models, human and mouse, that we have developed, and its 'safety' will be determined.

Infection Study of Human Neural Stem Cells with Oncolytic HSV
Summer, 04/02/07 - 08/03/07

Research
The research activities and funding listed below are automatically derived from NIH ExPORTER and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing items. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
  1. R21CA164726 (RABKIN, SAMUEL DAVID) Jul 20, 2012 - Jun 30, 2015
    NIH
    Selective Differentiation of Glioblastoma Stem Cells
    Role: Principal Investigator
  2. R01CA160762 (RABKIN, SAMUEL DAVID) May 3, 2012 - Jan 31, 2024
    NIH
    Targeting tumorigenic pathways in glioblastoma with oncolytic HSV
    Role: Principal Investigator
  3. P30NS045776 (BREAKEFIELD, XANDRA OWENS) May 1, 2003 - May 31, 2019
    NIH
    Interdepartmental Neuroscience Center
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
  4. R01NS033342 (RABKIN, SAMUEL D) Aug 1, 1994 - Apr 30, 2005
    NIH
    GENE DELIVERY TO THE CNS TO MODULATE EPILEPSY
    Role: Principal Investigator

Bibliographic
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Funded by the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences through its Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program, grant number UL1TR002541.