In a groundbreaking advancement poised to transform breast cancer treatment, University of Virginia researcher Natasha D. Sheybani, PhD, has been awarded a substantial $5.5 million grant by the U.S. Department of Defense. This funding supports her innovative exploration into the use of focused ultrasound technology to significantly enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy, opening new frontiers in the battle against one of the most prevalent and challenging cancers worldwide.
Focused ultrasound, a technique that employs precisely targeted sound waves to influence biological tissues, stands at the intersection of physical science and biomedical engineering. Unlike conventional therapies, which often rely on systemic drug delivery or invasive surgical methods, focused ultrasound offers a non-invasive, highly localized approach capable of modulating tumor environments with unprecedented specificity. Dr. Sheybani’s research aims to harness this potential to boost the immune system’s ability to detect and destroy malignant breast cancer cells, potentially revolutionizing treatment paradigms.
Awarded the prestigious Breast Cancer Research Program Era of Hope Scholar Award, Dr. Sheybani is the first scholar from UVA to receive this honor, distinguishing her as a rising luminary in translational cancer research. This award supports early-career scientists with groundbreaking ideas poised to yield tangible clinical impact. Her project seeks not only to improve the safety profile of immunotherapeutic agents but also to increase their precision and therapeutic efficiency by utilizing ultrasonic waves as a highly controllable adjunct.
Immunotherapy, which has transformed oncology through immune checkpoint inhibitors and engineered cellular therapies, still faces significant challenges, particularly in solid tumors such as breast cancer. Tumor microenvironments often suppress immune cell infiltration or activation. Focused ultrasound offers a novel mechanism to modulate these biological barriers. Through mechanical energy delivered via sound waves, the technology can transiently disrupt the tumor stroma, enhance drug penetration, and stimulate local immune responses, effectively converting “cold” tumors into “hot” ones that are more receptive to immunotherapy.
Dr. Sheybani’s work uniquely integrates engineering principles with oncological science. As a faculty member in UVA’s Department of Biomedical Engineering—a joint program spanning the School of Medicine and the School of Engineering and Applied Science—her approach is inherently multidisciplinary. By calibrating acoustic parameters to optimize ultrasound-induced biological effects without causing tissue damage, her research addresses critical challenges in balancing treatment efficacy with patient safety.
Beyond the laboratory, Dr. Sheybani is spearheading efforts to bridge the divide between scientific discovery and patient experience. She intends to foster collaborative dialogues among clinicians, researchers, patients, caregivers, and advocates. This inclusive approach aims to enhance the relevance and impact of cancer research while fostering greater community engagement and understanding, which is crucial for accelerating the adoption of novel therapies and improving survivorship outcomes.
The era of personalized medicine demands technologies that offer flexibility and precision. Focused ultrasound epitomizes these qualities, providing dynamic control over treatment delivery while maintaining non-invasiveness. This allows for repeated or adjustable therapeutic sessions, tailored to individual patient needs. Such adaptability is particularly vital in oncology, where tumor heterogeneity and evolving resistance mechanisms often hamper standardized treatment regimens.
UVA has been a pioneering force in the development and clinical translation of focused ultrasound technology. Early work by Dr. Jeff Elias and colleagues established foundational applications in movement disorders such as essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease, earning FDA approval and setting the stage for expanded medical uses. In cancer treatment, the application of focused ultrasound is still emerging, but promising preclinical and clinical data suggest its transformative potential.
The establishment of the world’s first Focused Ultrasound Cancer Immunotherapy Center at UVA underscores the institution’s commitment to advancing this technology. This dedicated center amalgamates expertise across disciplines to develop combination strategies that harness ultrasonic modulation alongside immunotherapeutic drug delivery. Dr. Sheybani’s role as the inaugural research director reflects her exceptional qualifications and the innovative nature of her work.
Her research also delves into the biophysical interactions of ultrasound with immune cells and tumor tissues, investigating how acoustic energy influences cell signaling, vascular permeability, and immune cell trafficking. Understanding these mechanisms at the molecular and cellular levels is critical for refining treatment protocols and predicting patient response, ultimately aiming for precision-targeted cancer therapy with minimal off-target effects.
The Breast Cancer Research Program Era of Hope Scholar Award recognizes scientists who demonstrate extraordinary creativity, productivity, and vision in breast cancer research. According to Amy Bouton, PhD, professor emerita at UVA’s School of Medicine, Dr. Sheybani’s receipt of this award cements her position as a leading star in cancer research, simultaneously elevating UVA and its cancer center’s stature nationally and internationally.
At UVA Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Virginia, this research synergizes with a broad spectrum of oncology programs focused on patient care, translational science, and community outreach. Integrating focused ultrasound into the clinical arsenal could accelerate the center’s mission to deliver cutting-edge, personalized therapies to cancer patients across the region and beyond.
Dr. Sheybani’s vision embodies a future where sound waves transcend their traditional roles in imaging and diagnostics, instead becoming potent therapeutic instruments that reshape tumor dynamics and empower the immune system. This paradigm shift has the potential to create therapies that are not only more efficacious but also safer and more patient-friendly, heralding a new chapter in non-invasive cancer treatment.
As this promising technology advances, it may also inspire the development of similar approaches across other cancer types and diseases characterized by challenging microenvironments. The project’s implications extend beyond breast cancer, offering a versatile platform for enhancing drug delivery and immune modulation in diverse clinical contexts.
With this substantial federal investment, Dr. Sheybani and her team have the resources to push the boundaries of focused ultrasound science, conducting rigorous preclinical studies, developing innovative instrumentation, and designing clinical trials that bring these innovations from bench to bedside. Their work stands as a beacon of hope for patients, offering the prospect of more effective, less toxic treatments forged at the nexus of engineering and medicine.
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Subject of Research: Focused ultrasound technology to enhance cancer immunotherapy for breast cancer.
Article Title: Sound Waves Surge Ahead: Revolutionizing Breast Cancer Immunotherapy with Focused Ultrasound
Web References:
https://uvahealth.com/services/focused-ultrasound
Image Credits: UVA Health
