Paul Sondel, MD, PhD, professor and research director, and co-PIs Amy Erbe-Gurel, PhD, assistant professor, and Alexander Rakhmilevich, MD, PhD, distinguished scientist, all in the Division of Hematology, Oncology, Transplant, and Cellular Therapy, have been awarded a two-year, $330,000 grant from CURE Childhood Cancer for their study, “Novel GD2/B7-H3 Bispecific Antibody with Agonist CD40 Antibody, Epigenetic Modifier Inhibitors and Checkpoint Blockade to Improve Treatment Efficacy for High-Risk Neuroblastoma.” This study aims to improve the cure rate and avoid side effects from neuroblastoma treatment, which often is severe pain. They are hoping to develop various strategies to address these issues in order to create a more therapeutic approach to treatment. This project addresses four major issues to further improve the cure rate and avoid side effects from anti-GD2. First, despite the antitumor benefit, patients receiving anti-GD2 suffer severe pain because anti-GD2 also binds to nerve cells. Second, due to this pain, the dose of anti-GD2 that can safely be given is relatively low. Third, approximately 90% of patients with relapsed neuroblastoma are still dying. Finally, neuroblastoma can reduce the molecules that anti-GD2 and immune cells recognize. This preclinical project will develop strategies to address each of these issues, aiming for a more effective combined therapeutic approach. The funding cycle for this project began in July of this year and will continue through June 2027.