University of Iowa

As a pediatric oncologist and Professor of Pediatrics, Dr. O'Dorisio enjoys caring for children with solid tumors, accepting the challenge of developing new therapies for these difficult to cure malignancies. She has basic research expertise in pharmacologic and molecular characterization of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR); her laboratory research focuses on identification of GPCRs that can serve as theranostic targets for both imaging and therapy.

Children and young adults with neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma and neuroendocrine tumors have now become her clinical focus. She designed and conducted a Phase I protocol of 90Y-DOTATOC therapy targeting somatostatin receptors that drew subjects with these three tumor types from all over the US. She now has a Phase II, Theranostic trial utilizing 68Ga-DOTATOC as a diagnostic and 90Y-DOTATOC as a therapeutic agent in children and adults with somatostatin receptor positive malignancies.

In all of these endeavors, she seeks to mentor basic science and clinical trainees who will ultimately translate their ideas and hard work into improved length and quality of life for children and adults suffering from these malignancies. She has been an NIH funded principal investigator since 1976, PI of a T32 training grant in “Hematologic and Oncologic Diseases of Childhood” since 2004, and currently also serves as PI of a SPORE in Neuroendocrine Tumors. She has mentored over 30 graduate and medical students, 25 MD and PhD fellows, and 20 junior faculty members, including service on the mentoring teams for three T32 training programs.