Dr. Coleman's current research program is based on his long-standing interest in tumor-induced and radiation-induced stress responses. The long-term focus is on developing molecular targeted radiation therapy. An overarching concept is of radiation therapy as 'focused biology' wherein radiation is described by the molecular events produced rather than by just the dose in Gray. Based on long-standing interest in NSAIDs and COX inhibitors, a focus of the laboratory over the last few years has been studying the effects of drugs and molecular-targeted agents at clinically relevant concentrations and schedules.

The radiation-inducible molecular targets program began in collaboration with Dr. Jim Mitchell that builds on our 'focused biology' approach in which radiation can create molecular changes within the radiation field that can be uniquely exploited. The laboratory has demonstrated that tumor cells and normal tissue adapt to multi-fraction radiation (MF-adaptive) with adaptation involving immune response and molecular target pathways. Collaborations are in progress with experts in immunology and the radiation-induced immune enhancement and abscopal response (Drs. Sandra Demaria and Silvia Formenti, Cornell University) and Dr. James Hodge of CCR. Recent results using a three-dimensional (3D) culture system demonstrated, for the first time, that drugging an induced target following radiation can effectively kill tumor cells.  While much remains to be done this may be a unique paradigm to exploit the advanced radiation therapy techniques to expand the utility of molecular-targeted and immunotherapy as part of precision medicine.

Additional projects in the laboratory are the development of biomarkers and a unique “decision-tree” model for assessing radiation injury following a radiological or nuclear incident which is supported by the Radiation and Nuclear Countermeasures Program of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. A related program is investigating organ-specific biomarkers of radiation injury with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). This includes helping define biomarkers for the new mini-pig system for developing radiation mitigators. Both of these projects are relevant to understanding normal tissue injury during radiation therapy.

Dr. Coleman's efforts in the Radiation Research Program (RRP), Division of Cancer Treatment & Diagnosis (DCTD), and that of his outstanding colleagues can be found on the RRP website at https://rrp.cancer.gov/. Dr. Coleman and Dr. Judith Bader are subject matter experts working on the civilian health and medical response to radiation- and nuclear-related incidents in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, DHHS. Dr. Coleman’s work in global health and health disparities can be found on the RRP website.