Personal Statement
The goal of the proposed research is to conduct toxicology studies that will support the use of inhalable topotecan for lung cancer therapy. Intravenous (IV) infusion of topotecan is FDA approved for the treatment of various malignancies including lung cancer. However, the wider use of this potent anti-cancer agent in the clinic is significantly undermined by its dose limiting hematological toxicity in some patients.
Recent findings from our ongoing NIH funded R01 project (on year-3 of a 5-years grant) have demonstrated that inhaled topotecan is significantly more effective in treating lung cancer in a preclinical setting than 2-times higher IV dose. Thus, the toxicology studies proposed under this application will build on these discoveries and will serve as the necessary and natural next steps in moving our exciting results to the clinic.
As the PI of the currently ongoing efficacy studies using the inhalable topotecan formulation for lung cancer therapy I will provide the necessary support to link the two projects. My research background, experience, and expertise in lung cancer research along with my great motivation to move this promising therapy to the clinic will help me to greatly contribute to the proposed project.
Education
Graduate School: Hannover Medical School, Germany (2004), Molecular Medicine
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine: Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (1998)