# BLR&D Research Career Scientist Award Application

> **NIH VA IK6** · HARRY S. TRUMAN MEMORIAL VA HOSPITAL · 2020 · —

## Abstract

As a VA Research Career Scientist, Dr. Timothy J. Hoffman’s research activities span 5 distinct
but interrelated areas involving translational drug development in oncology-predominantly related
to molecular imaging and targeted radiotherapy.
The primary research activity is currently focused on developing radiolabeled receptor targeted
theranostic (diagnostic and therapeutic) drugs for use in diagnosing, staging, and treating
advanced prostate cancer (PC). To achieve this programmatic goal, we are evaluating a
combination of Ga-68 diagnostic positron emitting agents for use in clinical nuclear medicine PET
imaging and Pb-212 alpha particle therapeutic agents for the systemic delivery of targeted
radiotherapy to Bombesin (BB2) receptor positive prostate cancers. This bench to bedside
program involves 1) basic radiochemical synthesis of novel radiopharmaceuticals, 2) In vitro
evaluation of cytotoxicity using a panel of human prostate cancer cell lines representative of the
spectrum of prostate cancer from androgen dependent to androgen independent as well as
incorporating chemotherapy naïve and resistant cell lines, 3) In vivo investigation into the utility of
these systemically administered theranostic agents to accurately target receptor positive cells
permitting quantitative PET imaging for diagnosis and staging of the Ga-68 labeled agent, 4)
Assessing the therapeutic efficacy of the Pb-212 labeled agent for treating human PC xenografts,
and 5) Performing the necessary tissue dosimetry and toxicity studies to enable the filing of a
Physician sponsored IND application to the FDA as one of the final steps toward translating these
agents into clinical trials.
The second focus of program activity involves establishing the Truman VA Clinical Research
Radiopharmacy (CRR) through VA ShEEP-IC funding for the production of novel short lived PET
radiopharmaceuticals to be utilized in clinical oncology and nuclear medicine research. The lack
of research radiopharmacy infrastructure as a major roadblock preventing the translation of drug
discoveries from the bench to the clinic. The CRR infrastructure and necessary hot cell shielding
technology is currently being procured with a goal of having a fully operational CRR that is
compliant with FDA, NRC, NHPP regulations and USP guidelines by the Fall of 2019.
The third focus of program activity involves directing the operation of the VA Biomolecular Imaging
Center which is operated as a shared core research service to provide preclinical molecular
imaging services utilizing PET, SPECT, CT, 7T MRI, Optical, and Bioluminescent technologies to
VA research investigators primarily in the areas of oncology, cardiology, and neuroscience.
The fourth and fifth foci of program activity involves formal scientific collaboration and scientific
mentorship of clinicians and basic scientists in the areas of oncology and molecular imaging on 4
active VA Merit awards, the new VA Open Field Blast Core, 1 VA CDA2 award, 1 NIH RO1 ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9871349
- **Project number:** 1IK6BX004856-01
- **Recipient organization:** HARRY S. TRUMAN MEMORIAL VA HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** TIMOTHY J. HOFFMAN
- **Activity code:** IK6 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2019-10-01 → 2024-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9871349

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9871349, BLR&D Research Career Scientist Award Application (1IK6BX004856-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9871349. Licensed CC0.

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