Inventor Profiles

Research area Using preclinical and translational research approaches to study the mechanisms whereby radiation may impact the anti-tumor response to immunotherapies. The research group’s primary objective is to determine whether and how radiation may optimally be employed to simultaneously modulate the tumor immune microenvironment and to increase the susceptibility of tumor cells to immune response. The team seeks to test these approaches in early phase clinical studies, where they may be further refined, with the ultimate aim of improving survival and achieving cures in patients with metastatic cancers.

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What excites you about your work? 

“I’m excited about the development of new, more effective treatments for cancer patients. One approach that we’re testing to achieve this is the in situ vaccine effect, where we might use radiation at one site to stimulate immune recognition of a tumor, similar to a cancer vaccine. While radiation alone is not very effective at this process, we’re exploring combining radiation with local intratumoral injections, to better stimulate immune recognition of the radiated tumor. Together with WARF, we have patented a few technologies related to this—for example, working with Sarah Gong’s group, we developed a nanoparticle specifically designed to enhance the in situ vaccine effect of radiation therapy.”

What do you hope to achieve? 

“We’re hoping to use preclinical studies to identify promising new cancer treatment approaches that have greater curative potential and to then test this in early phase clinical trials here at the UW Carbone Cancer Center. For example, we’re about to open a clinical trial to look at low-dose radiopharmaceuticals, in combination with a common form of immunotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibition. This study will be done with support of Archeus Technologies, a UW-Madison spinoff company licensing radiopharmaceuticals developed by my colleagues, Jamey Weichert and Reinier Hernandez. Additional preclinical data, generated in collaboration with Quaovi Sodji, Christian Capitini and Paul Sondel, suggests that this approach could work in combination with another form of immunotherapy, CAR T cells. These projects have high potential, and we’re now trying to translate this to the clinic, beginning with early phase human trials.”

Dr. Morris is at the forefront of developing combination therapies using immunomodulators and radiation. He is passionate about helping patients and moving science forward in a way that has a direct impact on patient well-being.

– Rafael Diaz, WARF, Licensing Manager