Bobba was awarded a grant for his proposal, “Development
of a CD46-Targeted 134Ce/134La Radiopharmaceutical for Auger Electron Capture
Therapy in Prostate Cancer.” In this study, he will establish a next-generation
Auger electron radiopharmaceutical therapy platform targeting CD46 that is capable of eradicating metastatic castration-resistant
prostate cancer with reduced toxicity compared to existing therapies.
“Current radiopharmaceutical therapies provide robust
tumor control and survival advantages; however, their efficacy is limited by
heterogeneous PSMA expression, PSMA-negative or PSMA-low disease, and
off-target toxicities,” said Bobba. “These challenges underscore the urgent
need for novel targets and radiopharmaceutical platforms, such as the one we
are developing, that overcome resistance and improve safety.”
Diehl was awarded a grant for his proposal, “177Lu-PSMA-617
Targeted Radionuclide Therapy Increases the Efficacy of B7-H3 Targeted CAR-T
Cell Therapy in Prostate Cancer,” which focuses on increasing survival outcomes
for prostate cancer patients. His study will explore the effects of combining
177Lu-based radiopharmaceutical therapy with CAR-T cell therapy in a prostate
cancer model.
“This proposal is significant because it seeks to
overcome critical barriers to effective and durable treatment for advanced
prostate cancer by developing a novel, mechanistically driven combination
strategy,” noted Diehl. “The work will support initiating a first-in-field
clinical trial combining B7-H3 CAR-T therapy with 177Lu-PSMA-617, potentially
inducing long-lasting remissions in patients with metastatic
castration-resistant prostate cancer.”
“We’re delighted to partner with PCF to help bring the
next generation of nuclear medicine, molecular imaging and theranostics
innovation closer to the clinic,” said SNMMI Mars Shot Fund Chair Richard Wahl,
MD, professor at Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology.
“Nuclear medicine and molecular imaging are transforming
prostate cancer care,” said Phillip Koo, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief
Medical Officer of the Prostate Cancer Foundation. “These awards recognize
promising investigators whose research has the potential to improve how we
detect and treat prostate cancer.”
The PCF Young Investigators program has awarded over $100
million for more than three decades to over 500 researchers who have made
important advancements in prostate cancer research while developing the next
generation of scientific leaders. Together, the SNMMI Mars Shot Fund and PCF are
supporting three Young Investigator Awards in 2026, for a total commitment of
$900,000.
###