Christina von Roemeling, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, UF College of Medicine
Brain cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer in both children and adults. In fact, brain tumors have now surpassed leukemia as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children. Some types, such as glioblastoma (GBM) and diffuse midline gliomas (DMG), are especially aggressive and difficult to treat. These tumors often grow in critical areas of the brain, like the brain stem and spinal cord, making surgical removal very challenging. Treating them with medicine is also difficult because of the blood-brain barrier, which is a natural defense that blocks more than 99% of drugs from entering the brain. On top of that, these tumors are skilled at avoiding detection by the immune system and can even manipulate it to support their growth.
Because of these challenges, new and more effective treatments are urgently needed. One promising approach being studied is low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU). This technique uses sound waves to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier, allowing medicine to reach the tumor. In our lab, we are exploring whether LIFU can be used to deliver special nanoparticles that are designed to activate the immune system and help it recognize and attack cancer cells.
Dr. Christina von Roemeling is a cancer biologist in the University of Florida Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program and a member of the UF Health Cancer Center. Her research focuses on developing experimental therapies, such as focused ultrasound and gene therapy, to enhance drug delivery and stimulate immune responses in both primary and metastatic brain cancers. She collaborates closely with a translational research team dedicated to turning scientific discoveries into first-in-human clinical trials, with the goal of transforming care for patients with brain tumors.
Core Standards
SC.912.L.16.8 Explain the relationship between mutation, cell cycle, and uncontrolled cell growth potentially resulting in cancer.
SC.912.L.16.10 Evaluate the impact of biotechnology on the individual, society and the environment, including medical and ethical issues
SC.912.N.4.2 Weigh the merits of alternative strategies for solving a specific societal problem by comparing a number of different costs and benefits, such as human, economic, and environmental.
SC.912.N.1.6 Describe how scientific inferences are drawn from scientific observations and provide examples from the content being studied.
SC.912.L.14.6 Explain the significance of genetic factors, environmental factors, and pathogenic agents to health from the perspectives of both individual and public health.
SC.912.L.14.52 Explain the basic functions of the human immune system, including specific and nonspecific immune response, vaccines, and antibiotics.
