Luna Innovations awarded grant to study brain tumors

Luna Innovations has been awarded a research grant to study brain tumors through the National Cancer Institute.

Luna hopes to use nanotechnology to improve the chances that a brain tumor can be diagnosed, according to a news release from the Blacksburg-based high tech company that operates a manufacturing plant in Danville.

“Under this program, Luna will adapt its exclusive contrast agent technology using carbon nanospheres to produce an improved magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agent,” the release states. “This next-generation contrast agent will be designed to enhance tumor imaging and advance the diagnosis and treatment of this disease by directing nanomolecules to seek out specific biological targets, such as a glioblastoma tumor, one specific form of brain cancer.”

MRI technology is essential in the diagnosis of brain tumors and other types of cancer.

“Primary malignant brain tumors cause 13,000 deaths in the United States annually and survival rates following therapeutic intervention are among the lowest compared to other cancers,” Robert Lenk, president of Luna’s nanoWorks division, said in the release. “The work we are doing with NIH allows us the opportunity to build on our existing contrast agent platform of carbon nanomedicines and ultimately improve the detection and diagnosis of these high risk brain tumors.”