Ernesto A Salegio
University of California San Francisco, USA
Title: Targeted Drug Delivery to the Central Nervous System Using Image-Guided Technology
Biography
Biography: Ernesto A Salegio
Abstract
Local, targeting of anatomical regions within the central nervous system (CNS) is challenging, but can be facilitated by the implementation of image-guided technology and neuronavigational platforms. For this reason, my work focuses on the implementation of image-guided tools (CT-MRI) to accurately deliver drugs focally into the CNS parenchyma, while minimizing untoward side effects to peripheral organs. Together with industry collaborators, I have developed novel neurosurgical, neuronavigational, image-guided components to improve drug delivery protocols that are safe and clinically relevant. During my postdoctoral work, as part of translational pre-clinical/safety studies, I specialized in local and systemic delivery of gene therapy products into the CNS in large animal species, demonstrating surprising levels of therapeutic effectiveness. This type of delivery employed a simple neurosurgical approach coupled with magnetic resonance image (MRI)-guided technology to successfully administer gene therapy products into the brain and spinal cord parenchyma. Recently, in collaboration with the Department of Radiology at UCSF, I have developed a minimally invasive protocol that uses computed tomography (CT) and MRI fusion to target the spinal cord via an inter-laminar percutaneous trajectory. These projects have gain considerable interest within the clinical and research community as a conduit to deliver treatments, advance technology and strengthen multi-departmental collaborations.