Masonic Scholar and pediatrics faculty member, Peter Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., is developing a novel approach to fighting cancer—the delivery of drugs via tiny microscopic particles called nanoparticles.
In contrast to conventional therapies, one of the greatest benefits of nanoparticles is that they are programmed to deliver drugs only to cancer cells, while avoiding interaction with healthy cells.
"Support from Minnesota Masonic Charities has played a key role in the development of this therapy."
So far, Gordon and his team have led early studies showing that nanoparticle drug delivery holds great promise in treating leukemia. They also believe that nanoparticles have the potential to deliver a multitude of drugs to patients with other types of cancer. The team is currently studying their effect in animal models of pediatric tumors such as Ewing sarcoma and neuroblastoma.