Jose Nunez Rodriguez, MD, MSc
Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Odette Cancer Centre

NTIG

The North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) congratulates Jose Nunez Rodriguez, MD, MSc, Fellow at the Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Odette Cancer Centre, in Toronto, ON, Canada as the 2023 recipient of NANETS Theranostics Investigator Grant (NTIG). Dr. Nunez Rodriguez was awarded this scholarship for his proposal: Personalized Patient Derived Xenografts (PDXovo) to test the synergistic effect of PRRT and Immunotherapy for NENs.

After finishing a year-long neuroendocrine program with Dr. Rachel Riechelmann at the AC Camargo Cancer Centre in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Dr. Jose Nunez Rodriguez moved to Toronto to work as a Medical Oncology Clinical Fellow with a focus on neuroendocrine tumors at the University of Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Odette Cancer Centre. Dr. Simron Singh, his mentor, was crucial in bringing Dr. Nunez Rodriguez on board. 

Nunez Rodriguez’s interest in neuroendocrine neoplasms led to multiple publications during his training. This project will reflect his group's strategic objective of personalized care for patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms. With the mentorship of Dr. Singh, and in collaboration with Dr. Iacovos Michael and Dr. Hon Leong, they will evaluate the potential synergism of alpha-particle PRRT and immunotherapy in PDXovo preclinical models.

“As co-director of the Susan Leslie Clinic for Neuroendocrine Tumors, I am thrilled to be able to mentor and collaborate with Dr. Nunez Rodriguez,” said Dr. Singh. “Dr. Nunez Rodriguez has already collaborated with members of our team and obtained funding to launch a number of important initiatives. This grant's focus is on advancing personalized treatment for neuroendocrine patients, which is one of our primary objectives.” 

Nunez Rodriguez’s hypothesis is that the combination of alpha-particle PRRT and immunotherapy will increase antitumor activity in PDXovo preclinical models of NENs.

NANETS is proud to support Dr. Nunez Rodriguez in this project in the area of theranostics, which was developed to push forward the boundaries of molecularly targeted radionuclide therapy and diagnostics for patients with neuroendocrine tumors.

The NTIG award is a two-year, $100,000 grant made possible through generous support from the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) and supported by an educational grant from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

NANETS is grateful to Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, whose generous investment and support of this annual research grant will make a difference in the NET medical community and the patients we serve. The NANETS Scientific Review & Research Committee establishes the award criteria, reviews process, and independently selects the recipient.