The overarching goal of this application is to address current technology and knowledge gaps by adapting, applying, and validating a set of low-cost technologies for treating melanoma in people living in low-income communities. The focus of the proposed research program is to provide an integrated approach to development of affordable treatment using photodynamic and sonodynamic therapy. The proposed program is built on prior success of the National Program in Brazil on treating basal cell carcinoma using photodynamic action, spearheaded by Professor Bagnato. The program represents a synergistic effort of partners with a history of successful collaboration between two countries (US and Brazi...

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The overarching goal of this application is to address current technology and knowledge gaps by adapting, applying, and validating a set of low-cost technologies for treating melanoma in people living in low-income communities. The focus of the proposed research program is to provide an integrated approach to development of affordable treatment using photodynamic and sonodynamic therapy. The proposed program is built on prior success of the National Program in Brazil on treating basal cell carcinoma using photodynamic action, spearheaded by Professor Bagnato. The program represents a synergistic effort of partners with a history of successful collaboration between two countries (US and Brazil) and cooperation with industrial partners to facilitate the translational effort of the research outcomes. This project will bring this group together and accelerate their collaborative progress. The project has four main technical objectives that will converge to achieve the overall outcome of reducing mortality rate associated with skin cancers: 1) Fundamental understanding of mechanisms involved in photo-sonodynamic processes; (2) Developing novel photosensitizing drugs that generate sufficient amount of ROS when subjected to ultrasound and light; (3) Developing novel instrumentation for treatment, monitoring therapeutic progression and assessing treatment outcome in preparation for clinical studies and trials; (4) Pilot pre-clinical studies to evaluate the dosimetry, safety and efficiency of treatment.

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