Our lab seeks to develop an imaging method for non-invasive detection and assessment of the immune status of a tumor. Our approach involves detection and analysis of the abundance of two T cell subsets: Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and regulatory T cells. The 2 cell populations will be identified by radiolabeling and subsequent detection with positron emission tomography.

By imaging TILs and Treg cells, it will be possible to differentiate highly immunogenic tumors from poorly immunogenic tumors which can benefit from radiation as a modality to induce response to various immunotherapies.