News + Media
2023
June 2023 - The Karathanasis Lab was awarded a $3M R01 grant from NCI. The project focuses on the development of dual action immunostimulatory nanoparticles for treatment of aggressive cancers. The research team also includes Professors Lily Wang (Cleveland Clinic), Brian Gastman (Cleveland Clinic), and Mark Jackson (CWRU).
June 2023 - Anu Bhalotia received an NIH fellowship from the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Imaging Training Program (T32EB007509).
2022
April 2022 - Abraham Nidhiry, an undergraduate research assistant in the Cancer Nanotechnology Lab, was selected as a SOURCE 2022 Summer Research Scholar.
April 2022 - Taylor Moon, a PhD student in our lab, was awarded an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.
March 2022 - Our article titled 'Immunostimulatory silica nanoparticle boosts innate immunity in brain tumors' was one of the most cited and accessed articles in Nanoscale Horizons in 2021. Read the collection >
March 2022 - New patent titled "Mesoporous silica nanoparticles for diagnostic and therapeutic applications" was awarded by the US Patent and Trademark Office. Link >
February 2022 - Kai Paulsen was awarded a scholarship from the Cancer-focused Summer Undergraduate Research program (CanSUR). CanSUR is an NCI-funded training program at Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.
2021
November 2021 - Dr. Morgan Lorkowski successfully defended and completed her PhD.
August 2021 - Walid Abuhashim received an NIH fellowship from the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Imaging Training Program (T32EB007509).
July 2021 - Dr. Karathanasis has been promoted to Full Professor, effective July 1, 2021.
May 2021 - Taylor Moon received an NIH fellowship from the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Imaging Training Program (T32EB007509).
January 2021 - Dr. Prabhani Atukorale, a postdoctoral fellow at the Karathanasis Lab, joined the Department of Biomedical Engineering at University of Massachusetts Amherst as a tenure-track Assistant Professor (starting in January 2021).
2020
September 2020 - Press release: Fighting breast cancer with nanotech, immunotherapy > The Daily | EurekaAlert
August 2020 - Dr. Gil Covarrubias successfully defended and completed his PhD. He is joining the lab of Paula Hammond at MIT as a postdoctoral fellow.
August 2020 - The Karathanasis Lab was awarded a $3M R01 grant from NCI. The project focuses on the development of immunostimulatory nanoparticles for directing antitumor immune response against breast cancer metastasis. The research team also includes Professors Bill Schiemann (CWRU), Lily Wang (Cleveland Clinic) and Christopher Hoimes (Duke).
July 2020 - Dr. Pete Bielecki successfully defended and completed his PhD. He is joining Putnam Associates in Boston as a Life Science Consultant.
March 2020 - Shruthi Ravichandran, a high school student researcher, was selected as a finalist and will participate at the 2020 International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). ISEF is the largest pre-college scientific research event in the world. Shruthi is a high school student in Hathaway Brown and her mentor is Pete Bielecki, a doctoral student in the lab.
February 2020 - Animesha Krishnamurthy was awarded a scholarship from the Cancer-focused Summer Undergraduate Research program (CanSUR). CanSUR is an NCI-funded training program at Case Western Reserve University.
2019
December 2019 - Prof. Karathanasis received the Discovery Award for Research from the Ohio Cancer Research organization at the 29th Star Award Gala. Ohio Cancer Research is a statewide, nonprofit organization dedicated to the cure and prevention of cancer, funding cancer research projects and supporting cancer awareness and early detection.
April 2019 - Congrats to Jasmine Haraburda and Anusha Khawaja for receiving a summer research scholarship | Jasmine and Anusha, undergraduate research assistants in the Cancer Nanotechnology Lab, were selected as SOURCE 2019 Summer Research Scholars.
March 2019 - Shruthi Ravichandran, a high school student researcher, was selected as a finalist and will participate at the 2019 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). ISEF is the largest pre-college scientific research event in the world. Shruthi is a high school student in Hathaway Brown and her mentor is Pete Bielecki, a doctoral student in the lab.
February 2019 - Taylor Moon was awarded a scholarship from the Cancer-focused Summer Undergraduate Research program (CanSUR). CanSUR is an NCI-funded training program at Case Western Reserve University.
February 2019 - Our lab's application to the NCI's Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) has been awarded. Nanomedicines accepted into the program undergo a rigorous evaluation that typically includes sterility and endotoxin testing, physicochemical characterization, in vitro hemato- and immunotoxicity, and in vivo studies to evaluate safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics. The studies are designed to promote the clinical translation of the most promising cancer nanomedicines. NCI founded NCL in collaboration with FDA and NIST as a public-private partnership. | See the announcement here >
2018
August 2018 - Morgan Lorkowski received an NIH fellowship from the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Imaging Training Program (T32EB007509).
April 2018 - Congrats to Youngjun Park, Abdel Rahmy, and Michelle Wiese for receiving a summer research scholarship | Youngjun, Abdel and Michelle, undergraduate research assistants in the Omega Lab, were selected as SOURCE 2018 Summer Research Scholars.
2017
December 2017 - TEDx Talk | Stathis Karathanasis: Downsizing the fight with cancer | Link to video >
August 2017 - The Cancer Nanotechnology Lab has been awarded a 2-year, $250k Innovation Grant from Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, which is a nonprofit dedicated to finding cures for all children with cancer. The title of the project is 'Targeting pediatric brain tumors using PTPmu nanochains with radiofrequency-releasable therapeutics' | Brady-Kalnay & Karathanasis (co-PIs) | Link >
March 2017 - The National Cancer Institute chose two nanotechnology images from our lab for their Cancer Close Up gallery collection to be featured at their 2017 AACR and ASCO booths. Check it out online: Nanoparticles in breast cancer metastases | Targeted nanochains in brain tumors >
March 2017 - Isha Lele, a high school student researcher in The Omega Nano Lab, was awarded the third place grant in the category of materials science at the 2017 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). ISEF is the largest pre-college scientific research event in the world. Isha is a high school student in Hathaway Brown and her mentor is Dr. Prabhani Atukorale. Link >
2016
September 2016 - The Omega Nano Lab was awarded a patent on the synthesis and use of 'multi-component nanochains.' US patent 9,439,966 describes multi-component nanochains and their use for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Co-inventors include Stathis Karathanasis, Associate Professor of biomedical engineering and radiology, Pubudu Peiris, research assistant professor of biomedical engineering, and Mark Griswold, Professor of Radiology. Link to USPTO.gov >
August 2016 - Gil Covarrubias receives NIH fellowship from the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Imaging Training Program (T32EB007509)
May 2016 - Lisa Bauer has been awarded an NIH postdoctoral fellowship from the Cancer Biology training program at Case CCC (T32CA059366). Her mentoring team includes Professors Griswold, Brady-Kalnay, and Karathanasis.
May 2016 - The Omega Nano Lab was awarded a $150k grant from the Angie Fowler Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Research Initiative. The research team also includes Professors Susann Brady-Kalnay and Mark Griswold.
April 2016 - Congrats to Morgan Lorkowski for receiving a summer research scholarship | Morgan, an undergraduate research assistant in the Omega Lab, was selected as SOURCE 2016 Summer Research Scholar.
April 2016 - The death of 7-year old Maria McNamara inspired the inception of Prayers from Maria, a grassroots organization leading the charge against childhood brain tumors and raising awareness of this tragic disease with a survival rate of less than 1%. Think Media Studios, a video production company partnered with Prayers From Maria to create the documentary "From the Ground Up: Grassroots Against Cancer." The film was accepted into the Cleveland International Film Festival - details | Watch the film >
April 2016 - Starting this April, Dr. Pubudu Peiris joins the Faculty of Case School of Engineering as an Assistant Professor (research track) of Biomedical Engineering.
March 2016 - Pete Bielecki was awarded an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.
2015
December 2015 - Attacking an incurable cancer | news article >
August 2015 - Chemical & Engineering News magazine featured our work on dual-ligand nanoparticles, which was recently published in ACS Nano | Nanoparticles hit cancer's moving target >
August 2015 - NCI awarded the Omega Lab a $2.82M grant to develop chain-like nanoparticles for the treatment of glioblastoma (U01CA198892). The research team includes Drs. Karathanasis (PI), Jeremy Rich (Cleveland Clinic), Mark Griswold and Jim Basilion (CWRU), and Ketan Ghaghada (Texas Children's Hospital). This award is part of the Innovative Research in Cancer Nanotechnology (IRCN) program of the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer. | link >
July 2015 - FOX 8 channel featured Dr. Karathanasis and his colleagues and their cancer nanotechnology research. This research, which is funded by the Prayers from Maria Children's Glioma Cancer Foundation, seeks to find a treatment for pediatric brain tumors.
June 2015 - THINK magazine: Nanosize cancer hunter | Scientists aim to vanquish miniscule invaders
May 2015 - Congrats to Amy Goldberg for receiving a summer research scholarship | Amy, an undergraduate research assistant in the Omega Lab, was selected as SOURCE 2015 Summer Research Scholar.
2014
October 2014 - The Cancer Nanotechnology Lab was awarded a grant from the Prayers from Maria Children's Glioma Cancer Foundation| News release: Case Western researchers awarded $250,000 to develop an effective treatment for childhood brain tumors
August 2014 - Elizabeth Doolittle receives NIH fellowship from the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Imaging Training Program (T32EB007509)
April 2014 - Congrats to Gilad Doron for receiving a summer research scholarship | Gilad, an undergraduate research assistant in the Cancer Nanotechnology Lab, was selected as SOURCE 2014 Summer Research Scholar.
April 2014 - Kaitlyn Murray was selected for a summer internship at the National Institute of Aging | Kaitlyn, an undergraduate research assistant in the Cancer Nanotechnology Lab, was selected for summer internship with the Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, Intramural Research Program at the National Institute of Aging.
2013
December 2013 | The Journal of Controlled Release selected our manuscript (Peiris et al., J Control Release 173 (2014) 51-59) to be highlighted on the cover. It is also featured in the cover story written by the Editor-in-Chief.
November 2013 - Prof. Karathanasis was selected to attend the 2013 National Academies Keck Futures Initiative conference | The 2013 NAKFI conference on "The future of advanced nuclear technologies" was held at the Beckman Center of the NAS and the NAE in Irvine, Ca.
October 2013 - CWRU researchers aim nanotechnology at micrometastases | News release: To infiltrate and quash aggressive cancers that survive traditional therapy
July 2013 - The Cancer Nanotechnology Lab was awarded a grant from the Ohio Cancer Research Associates
July 2013 - The Cancer Nanotechnology Lab was awarded an RO1 grant from the National Cancer Institute (1R01CA177716)
June 2013 - The Cancer Nanotechnology Lab was awarded a grant from the NIH Clinical Translational Science Collaborative program at Case Western Reserve University (UL1TR000439).
June 2013 - Congrats to Aaron Mayer, winner of a Fulbright National Scholarship | Aaron Mayer, an undergraduate researcher in the Cancer Nanotechnology Lab won a Fulbright National Scholarship to work with Dr. Melody Swartz at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne in Switzerland.
May 2013 - Imaging Technology News magazine | Detecting early onset of metastatic disease using MRI
April 2013 - Congrats to two undergraduate researchers in the Cancer Nanotechnology Lab for receiving Research Scholarships | Samantha Tucci and Dishen (Aaron) Lin were selected as SOURCE 2013 Summer Research Scholars.
April 2013 - Congrats to three undergraduate researchers in the Cancer Nanotechnology Lab for receiving multiple awards | Emily Tran received the 2013 Gheorge and Claudia Mateescu Undergraduate Award for Research in Imaging from the CWRU BME department. Aaron Mayer won 2nd place in engineering in the 2013 Intersections SOURCE symposium. Also, Elizabeth Doolittle, Aaron Mayer, and Emily Tran received senior project awards.
2012
December 2012 - National Cancer Institute highlights the nanochain technology | NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer
November 2012 - Interview on Fox 8 channel (WJW-TV/video) | CWRU cancer nanotechnology: New nanotechnology detects metastatic breast cancer at an early stage
October 2012 - Nanochains light up metastatic cancer cells | Chemical & Engineering News magazine: Particles' oblong shape could help detect spreading tumors
September 2012 - Exposing cancer's lethal couriers | News Release: Nanochains mark micrometastases for early diagnosis, treatment
August 2012 - Behind the scenes with an American Cancer Society Researcher | The Cleveland Young professionals of the American Cancer Society visited the NME lab and its facilities
July 2012 - The Cancer Nanotechnology Lab was awarded a grant from the NIH CTSC program at Case Western Reserve University
June 2012 - Nanochains could hold the key to more effective cancer treatment | News and Views: Nanomedicine 2012 7(6) pp 799-801
April 2012 - Good vibrations in fight against cancer | News Release: Magnetic nanochain detonates chemo barrage inside tumors
April 2012 - Aaron Mayer and Pete Vicente receive the SOURCE 2012 Summer Research Scholarship. Aaron and Pete, biomedical engineering undergraduate researchers in the Cancer Nanotechnology Lab, were selected as SOURCE 2012 Summer Research Scholars.
2011
October 2011 - The Cancer Nanotechnology Lab was awarded an American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant (IRG-91-022-18) and a pilot grant from the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (P30 CA043703)
September 2011 - Randall Toy receives fellowship from the NIH Interdisciplinary Biomedical Imaging Training Program (5T32EB007509)
April 2011 - Randall Toy is the recipient of the 2011 Graduate Student Appreciation Award. Randy, a doctoral candidate in the Cancer Nanotechnology Lab, received this award from the CWRU School of Graduate Studies for his contributions that improve the campus community and/or surrounding Cleveland community.
April 2011 - Elliott Hayden receives the Jose Alcala Memorial Award and the SOURCE 2011 Summer Research Scholarship. Elliott Hayden, an undergraduate researcher in the Cancer Nanotechnology Lab, received the Jose Alcala Memorial Award from the CWRU BME department which recognizes an undergraduate student for “outstanding and enthusiastic contributions to research and technical creativity”. In addition, Elliott was selected as a SOURCE 2011 Summer Research Scholar.
March 2011 - Imaging exposes unique voyage of nanoparticles in blood circulation | Nanotechweb.org - News Item: All nanoparticles are not made equal
2009
October 2009 - Stimulus Projects Designed to Heal, Prevent and Restore | Case Western Reserve University - News Release: Biomedical Engineering Faculty at Case Western Reserve University Receives More Than $3.5 Million in Grants
prior to CWRU
February 2009 - Imaging nanoprobe for prediction of chemotherapy outcome | Technology Review magazine: Predicting Cancer Drugs' Impact. Also available as podcast.
Georgia Institute of Technology - News Release: New Technique Predicts Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Effectiveness
University of Texas Health Science Center - Press Release: Scientists can predict nano drug outcome
November 2008 - Multifunctional nanoparticle for prediction of chemotherapy | National Cancer Institute: Nanoparticle Reports on Drug Delivery to Breast Tumors, Predicts Response to Therapy
July 2008 - MR-trackable nanocarrier | Nanotechweb.org: Non-invasive tracking of nanocarrier distribution in tumors
November 2007 - Glucose-sensitive nanostructured inhalable insulin particle | University of Texas Health Science Center - Press Release: Smart Insulin Nanostructures Pass Feasibility Test, UT Study Reports
