# Biomaterial Drones for Image-Guided Drug Delivery during radiotherapy

> **NIH NIH R01** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $199,909

## Abstract

Project Abstract
This application is being submitted in response to the Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) identified
as NOT-CA-22-057. The goal of the NOSI is to stimulate or strengthen global cancer health disparities
research. One of the major area of global cancer health disparities is in access to radiotherapy, employed
in the treatment of over 50% of cancer patients. According to the recent World Health Organization
Cancer Report and Lancet Oncology Commission Report for Sub-Saharan Africa, these disparities are
particularly alarming for African populations and may underlie the disparities in access to radiotherapy
also seen among African American/immigrant populations in the USA. A greater understanding and
innovative approaches to reduce these disparities in access to radiotherapy are crucial in addressing the
growing global burden of cancer and disparities in cancer deaths. Innovative approaches with potential
to significantly reduce disparities in access to radiotherapy include use of evidence-based
hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) and smart radiotherapy biomaterials (SRBs), which are being
developed under the parent R01 grant. The SRBs can be employed in place of currently used inert
radiotherapy biomaterials (fiducials and beacons). Preliminary studies have established that the SRBs
can boost both local and metastatic tumor kill when used in conjunction with HFRT. However, a major
gap in the scientific literature is the extent of adoption and utilization of HFRT and radiotherapy
biomaterials at African country cancer centers and the currently available infrastructure, including human
infrastructure for adoption of such an approach with the SRBs. Hence, in this supplement project, we
will investigate disparities in the adoption and utilization of evidence-based HFRT and radiotherapy
biomaterials in Africa in comparison with the USA, and potential cost savings that could result in use of
HFRT with SRBs. Published data resulting from this project will be crucial in informing policy on
increasing access to radiotherapy in Africa. The published data will also be highly relevant in planning
USA-Africa multi-center clinical trials resulting from the R01-funded project with participation of diverse
populations, including Africans and African Americans traditionally underrepresented in clinical trials.
Moreover, the significance of this work is even greater now in global health as COVID-19 has further
exposed the level of disparities in access to care, with professional societies recommending increased
use of evidence-based HFRT.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10627008
- **Project number:** 3R01CA239042-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Wilfred Ngwa
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $199,909
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-09-08 → 2024-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10627008

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10627008, Biomaterial Drones for Image-Guided Drug Delivery during radiotherapy (3R01CA239042-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10627008. Licensed CC0.

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