# Pharmacologic and Genomic Imaging Core

> **NIH NIH U19** · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · 2021 · $267,656

## Abstract

Summary:
Glioblastoma represents a complex disease in which heterogeneity in both tumor composition and drug
distribution needs to be considered for understanding treatment response. Genetic, epigenetic and
developmental programs that differ between malignant cells influence the response to any drug candidates
(DC). Additionally, pathophysiological barriers of the microenvironment and vasculature, such as the blood-
brain barrier (BBB), produce heterogeneous distribution of DC, de facto exposing heterogeneous malignant
cells and their microenvironment to variable drug concentrations. Assessing these variable parameters is
paramount to precisely dissect the response of glioblastoma to any DC. Many targeted therapy trials have
failed to incorporate such measurements, hampering our ability to interpret results. The Pharmacological and
Genomic Imaging Core (PGIC) of the Harvard/Stanford U19 Program will provide state-of-art technical
expertise and resources for characterizing drug concentration and glioblastoma response in patient tumor
samples and in comprehensively characterized orthotopic mouse patient-derived xenografts (PDX) glioma
models. PGIC brings together multiscale technologies from microscale analysis to macroscale organ in vivo
imaging with micro- and macro-scale registration. PGIC provides an integrated platform to fuse detailed
histopathology, drug distribution, metabolomics, and single-cell transcriptomics with registration to in vivo
imaging when available. Specifically, PGIC will: (Aim1) perform spatially-resolved measurements of DC and
metabolic pathways in brain tissue specimens sampled from both clinical trials and experimental models; (Aim
2) perform single-nucleus RNA-sequencing analysis of glioma and microenvironmental cells from frozen
clinical samples and pre-clinical models of glioblastoma; (Aim 3) perform spatial analysis of dynamic
therapeutic effects in glioblastoma patient samples and models using spatial transcriptomics and multiplex
digital imaging. We have developed innovative and efficient clinical pipelines and multi-site clinical trials
infrastructure to obtain samples for PGIC analysis and put in place systematic workflows in the hospital setting.
Our analyses will be performed on frozen samples, facilitating the flow of acquired specimen across multiple
sites in the Harvard/Stanford GTN. PGIC will provide consistent workflows, standardize the acquisition of
samples and data, provide expert personnel, facilitate the sharing of knowledge within the program, and
maintain the sophisticated equipment necessary to generate data for all Projects which is critical for data
reproducibility and data sharing across projects. PGIC will be led Dr. Mario Suvà, Dr Nathalie Agar and Dr.
Keith Ligon who will contribute their expertise in single-cell technologies, mass spectrometry imaging and
neuropathology.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10306228
- **Project number:** 1U19CA264504-01
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Mario Luca Suva
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $267,656
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-21 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10306228

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10306228, Pharmacologic and Genomic Imaging Core (1U19CA264504-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10306228. Licensed CC0.

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