R&E Scholar Grant Sparks the Future of Interventional Oncology
When Jason Chiang, MD, PhD, was awarded the R&E Foundation Research Scholar Grant in 2023, he didn’t yet know where this funding opportunity would take him. Now, three years later, what began as a focused study on ablations and NK cells has blossomed into multi-disciplinary interventional oncology team comprised of post-doctoral, graduate, medical and undergraduate students that are continuing to investigate developments to improve standard-of-care treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Dr. Chiang is an Assistant Professor in the Interventional Radiology Section within the Department of Radiological Sciences at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.
His grant project “Augmenting Microwave Ablation With Supercharged NK Cell Therapy in HCC” investigated whether specially-engineered natural killer (NK) cells could kill aggressive tumor cells at higher levels when paired with image-guided thermal ablation.
This research marks a pivotal evolution in cancer treatment, combining immunotherapy with image-guided locoregional therapy. While checkpoint inhibitors and cell-based immunotherapies have transformed treatment for hematological malignancies, there is still much unknown about their ability to impact patients with solid tumor cancers, such as HCC. In this study, the combination of NK cell therapy with ablation was found to be associated with more tumor regression compared to NK cells or ablation monotherapy alone. These findings paved the way for translational studies designed to bridge the gap between rodent studies and early-phase clinical trials. The stakes are bigger than any one single cancer type. If image guided-procedures can be used to prime the immune system, interventional radiology techniques can be more than just a local tool and can actually become something far more powerful.
We reached out to Dr. Chiang to learn more about the outcomes of his research and how the Foundation grant has impacted his career growth. The interview below was conducted via email and was minorly edited for clarity.
What was the outcome of your research and what next steps have you taken in researching this topic? How has it impacted this field of study?
We wanted to explore how we could make image-guided tumor ablation of the liver, a now essentially standard-of-care oncologic procedure for interventional radiologists, work even better by pairing it with specially engineered immune cells called NK (natural killer) cells. I view the ablation zone destroying the majority of the tumor but also opening the front door to some of the microscopic, imaging-occult tumor cells, and having these NK cells rush in to eliminate what's left. The broader implication is very exciting because we might be able to turn a local, targeted procedure into something that can help the immune system better identify and target cancer in the body.
How did receiving this grant help you advance and grow your career in radiology?
The RSNA Scholar Grant was absolutely instrumental in launching my academic career. I was able to take on my first research associate (Janet Pham, BS) and an immunology graduate student (Cathy Chen, PhD), both of whom help set up the logistics of the lab and helped execute the aims of the grant. Importantly, establishing a formal research lab within the radiology department allowed me to forge collaborations across campus with talented investigators also interested in image-guided drug delivery. Those collaborations led to pilot experiments that supported larger funding applications. It just compounded. One grant started a chain reaction. It's hard for me to imagine what my career trajectory would have looked like without the support of the RSNA Scholar grant.
How might you encourage a trainee or medical student as they pursue their career in medicine? What would you say if they were considering applying for a grant?
Apply! I encourage all my trainees and medical students to apply to these grants. These RSNA grants exist specifically for people at the beginning of their journey. I don't know if others experience this, but for me, the process of writing a grant proposal really forces me to view the problem with a clarity that ultimately makes me a better scientist, regardless of the outcome. And don’t wait for the ‘perfect time’—there really isn’t one. I do 90% of my grant writing after I put my kids to sleep. Only the really compelling ideas make it to that point of the day, which is a useful filter. Also find strong mentors, specifically those who have successfully obtained prior extramural grants because they've been through the fire. This field will advance because young investigators are willing to pursue interesting projects early in their careers.
How has receiving an R&E grant inspired you to give back as a volunteer with the grant review study sections? Why do you feel it is important to support the Foundation?
My career has been directly shaped by the R&E Foundation. I feel a responsibility to make sure the next investigator gets the same shot. Sitting on the study section has been a tremendous honor. I want to champion the next young investigator with a bold idea and currently no platform to test it. Selfishly, reviewing grants also keeps me sharp and informed about where the field is going. It is refreshing to see the newest ideas before they're even carried out, and it is a personal privilege to help shape the direction of radiology research.
Is there anything else that you would like to share about this grant or its impact?
The RSNA grants helped signal to the broader scientific community that our work matters. Research collaborators answer my texts, the department protects my time and space, and trainees from within and outside of radiology want to be part of our lab. What started as a focused study on ablations and NK cells has led to a real research program, with a 15-person team comprised of post-doctoral, graduate, medical and undergraduate students, and a pipeline of work that I am proud to be a part of.
If you wish to support the work of the Foundation, please consider donating or volunteering your time and expertise. Contact Victoria Peterson at vpeterson@rsna.org for more information about volunteer opportunities and Linda Flo at lflo@rsna.org to discuss donation options.