Gregory K Friedman
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatrics
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Pediatrics Patient Care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Attending Physician, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Mosbacher Pediatrics Chair, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Section Chief, Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Research Interests
MAJOR RESEARCH INTERESTS:
1. Testing and translating novel therapeutics including engineered oncolytic herpes simplex virus therapy and other oncolytic viruses and immunotherapies to clinical trials to benefit pediatric brain and solid tumor patients
· Principal Investigator and Sponsor for multi-institutional investigator-initiated Phase 1 first-in-children trial HSV G207 in children with recurrent supratentorial brain tumors (NCT02457845); FDA IND #16294; NIH Recombinant Advisory Committee Protocol #1505-1426
· Principal Investigator and Sponsor for investigator-initiated first-in-human Phase 1 trial of HSV G207 in children with recurrent or refractory cerebellar brain tumors (NCT03911388), FDA IND #16294
· COG and NCI Pediatric Early Phase Clinical Trials Network (PEP-CTN), UAB Principal Investigator. This consortium is limited to 21 competitively selected primary institutions
2. Gaining a better understanding of chemo- and radiation resistant cancer stem cells to target these cells with oncolytic virotherapy
3. Developing novel routes of delivering oncolytic herpes simplex virus therapy to target primary and metastatic disease
4. Determining mechanisms of cancer cell resistance to engineered HSV therapy in order to circumvent resistance mechanisms and develop novel combination therapies
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2002 | Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia, US, MD |
| 1997 | College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, US, Kinesiology, BA |
Postgraduate Training
| 2005-2008 | Clinical Fellowship, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama |
| 2003-2005 | Clinical Residency, Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama |
| 2002-2003 | Clinical Internship, Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2023 | Texas Medical License |
| 2009 | Pediatric Hematology and Oncology |
| 2005 | General Pediatrics |
| 2003 | Alabama Medical License |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Professor, Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 2020 - 2023
Professor, Pediatrics Patient Care, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 2020 - 2023
Scientist, UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, AL, 2019 - 2023
Associate Professor, Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 2018 - 2020
Director, Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 2018 - 2023
Associate Professor, Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 2017 - 2020
Full Graduate Faculty, University of Alabama at Birmingham Graduate School, Birmingham, AL, 2016 - 2023
Associate Professor, Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 2014 - 2020
Scholar, UAB Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Birmingham, AL, 2010 - 2023
Associate Scientist, UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, AL, 2008 - 2019
Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 2008 - 2014
Other Professional Positions
Attending Physician, Children’s of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, 2008 - 2023
Attending Physician, UAB Hospital, Attending Physician, AL, 2008 - 2023
Board of Directors Member, Camp Smile-A-Mile, Birmingham, AL, 2007 - 2012
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Advanced Scholars Program Council, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024 - Present
Member, Research Integrity Officer Recruitment Task Force, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024 - Present
Member, 2025 Multidivisional OncoPitch Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024 - 2025
Member, MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital Executive Leadership Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - Present
Ad Hoc Member, NIH Therapeutic Immune Regulation R01/R21 Study Section, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - Present
Member, Faculty Recruitment Panel, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - Present
Member, Pediatric Internal Promotion Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - Present
Member, Medical Advisory Board, Kids Join the Fight, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - Present
Member, Medical Advisory Board Director, Trial Blazers for Kids, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Member, Distinguished Professor Rank Appointing Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Member, O’Neal Scientific Review Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - 2023
Member, O’Neal Scientific Review Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - 2023
Member, Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board, Cannonball Kids’ Cancer Foundation, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present
Member, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center Therapeutics, Target Identification and Imaging Working Group strategic planning committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present
Member, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center Facilitating Clinical Translation and Investigator-Initiated Trials strategic planning committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present
Member, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center Investment Program Awards study section (3-year term), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - 2023
Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Kate Amato Foundation, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - Present
Ad Hoc Member, NIH Special Emphasis Panel: The Surgical Sciences, Biomedical Imaging, and Bioengineering (SBIB), Translational Research in Pediatric and Obstetric Pharmacology and Therapeutics R01/R21 Review Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - Present
Member, Core Faculty Member for UAB Neuro-Oncology Fellowship Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2023
Member, Clinical Trial Oversight Committee, Sunshine Project of the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2020
Ad Hoc Member, NIH Beau Biden Moonshot Pediatric Immunotherapy: U01 Review Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - Present
Grant Reviewer, Medical Advisory Board, Open Hands Overflowing Hearts, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - Present
Medical Advisor, Medical Advisor, Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - Present
Member, UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Gene Therapy Panel Member, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - 2023
Member, NCI Pediatric Early Phase Clinical Trials Network (PEP-CTN) and the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Developmental Therapeutics Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - 2023
Member, UAB Department of Pediatrics Promotion and Tenure Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - 2023
Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Cannonball Kids’ cancer Foundation, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2017 - Present
Ad Hoc Member, NIH Special Emphasis Panel: NCI R03/R21 Review Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2017 - Present
Member, UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Young Supporters Board new investigator grant review committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2016 - Present
Member, Dixon Fellowship Selection Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2016 - 2021
Member, UAB Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Developmental Therapeutics Director Search Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2016 - 2017
Member, UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Strategic Planning Retreat, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - Present
Member, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Research Symposium Planning Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - 2019
Member, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Division Director Search Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - 2018
Member, Grant Review Committee, Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, National Pediatric Oncology Research Foundation, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2014 - Present
Member, Medical Advisory Board, Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2014 - Present
Member, Research Grant Review Committee, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, national pediatric oncology research foundation, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2013 - 2021
Member, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program Evaluation Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2013 - 2018
Member, Department of Pediatrics Chair Research Search Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2013 - 2014
Interviewer, UAB School of Medicine Admissions Research Interview Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2011 - 2014
Member, Camp Smile-A-Mile Scholarship Awards Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2011 - 2013
Member, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Scholarship Oversight Committees, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2010 - 2023
Interviewer, Pediatric Residency Recruiting Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2010 - 2022
Interviewer, UAB School of Medicine Admissions Interview Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2010 - 2016
Ad Hoc Member, US FDA Neuro-Oncology Review Panel for the Orphan Products Development Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2010 - 2014
Member, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Interviews, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2008 - 2021
Member, Pediatric House Staff Council, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2004 - 2005
Member, Coat of Arms Pediatric Residency Service Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2004 - 2005
Member, UAB House Staff Council, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2003 - 2005
Member, Primary Care Clinic Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2002 - 2004
Member, Residency Curriculum Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2002 - 2003
Editorial Activities
Editor, Journal of Cancer Stem Cell Research, 2013 - 2016
Editor, World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics, 2012 - 2018
Honors & Awards
| 2025 - Present | Scholar Award, Hyundai Hope on Wheels |
| 2024 - Present | Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research “William Olsen Impact Award” for commitment, determination, and resilience in the fight against childhood cancer |
| 2024 - Present | MD Anderson Comprehensive Cancer Center “Research Excellence” Award |
| 2024 - Present | Trial Blazer Award For Kids - Putting Hope Into Practice |
| 2021 | “Featured Discovery”, Oncolytic HSV-1 G207 Immunovirotherapy for Pediatric High-Grade Gliomas, Chosen by the UAB AMC 21 research steering committee |
| 2020 - 2022 | UAB Department of Pediatrics Excellence in Education Awards |
| 2020 | UAB Department of Pediatrics Research Achievement Award |
| 2019 - 2024 | Best Doctors List, Best Doctors in America® |
| 2017 - 2024 | America’s Top Doctors®, Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd |
| 2016 - 2017 | NIH Loan Repayment Program Award, National Cancer Institute, L40 CA162164-04 |
| 2016 | Hyundai Hope on Wheels Scholar Award |
| 2015 - 2024 | B Metro Birmingham Magazine Top Doctor in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology |
| 2015 - 2016 | NIH Loan Repayment Program Award, National Cancer Institute, L40 CA162164-03 |
| 2014 | Hyundai Hope Award |
| 2013 - 2014 | NIH Loan Repayment Program Award, National Cancer Institute, L40 CA162164-02 |
| 2012 - 2017 | Certificate of Teaching Excellence at five separate Frontiers in Stem Cells in Cancer Advanced Training Courses |
| 2012 | St. Baldrick’s Scholar Award |
| 2011 - 2013 | NIH Loan Repayment Program Award, National Cancer Institute, L40 CA162164-01 |
| 2010 | Hyundai Scholar Award |
| 2009 | UAB Department of Pediatrics Excellence in Teaching Award |
| 2008 | International Symposium of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Young Investigator Award for Scientific Excellence |
| 2008 | UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Junior Faculty Award for Excellence in Cancer Research |
| 2006 | Dixon Fellowship Award |
| 2002 - 2005 | Multiple letters of recommendation for performance during residency |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Formal Peers
- 2023. Immunotherapy Gone Viral: Strategies for Targeting Pediatric Brain Tumors with Oncolytic Virotherapy. Visiting. Houston, TX, US.
- 2022. Targeting Pediatric Brain Tumors with Oncolytic Virotherapy. Visiting, US.
- 2022. Going Viral: Advances in Oncolytic Virotherapy for Pediatric Brain Tumors. Visiting. Houston, TX, US.
- 2022. Oncolytic Therapy in Pediatric Gliomas – An Overview. Visiting. Chennai, IN.
- 2022. Overcoming Immunotherapy Challenges to Target Leptomeningeal Disease. Visiting. Tampa Bay, FL, US.
- 2021. Clinical Application of Oncolytic HSV-1 G207 for Pediatric Brain Tumors invited talk “Viruses and Vaccines” Session. Visiting. Boston, MA, US.
- 2021. Oncolytic HSV Immunovirotherapy for Pediatric Brain Tumors, PRECINCT (Pre-medical Cancer Immunotherapy Network Canine Trials). Visiting, US.
- 2021. An Early Success Story: Oncolytic Virotherapy in Pediatric Gliomas. Visiting. Boston, MA, US.
- 2021. Panel Discussion: Future Perspectives in Using Oncolytic Viruses in Pediatrics. Visiting. Boston, MA, US.
- 2021. Oncolytic Immunovirotherapy: Phase 2 Trial of HSV-1 G207 with Nivolumab and Ipilimumab. Visiting. Denver, CO, US.
- 2021. Oncolytic Viral Therapy Strategies. Visiting, US.
- 2021. Oncolytic HSV-1 Immunovirotherapy for Pediatric Brain Tumors. Visiting, US.
- 2021. Going Viral: Clinical Application of Oncolytic HSV-1 G207 for Pediatric Brain Tumors. “Oncolytic Viruses: Successes, Challenges, and a Promising Future”. Visiting, US.
- 2021. Phase II Trial of HSV G207 with a Single 5 Gy Radiation Dose in Children with Recurrent High-Grade Glioma. Visiting, US.
- 2021. ‘Bench-to-Bedside-to-Bench’ Translation of Oncolytic HSV-1 Immunovirotherapy: No Research Experience Required. Visiting. Birmingham, AL, US.
- 2021. The Changing Landscape of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology. Visiting. Birmingham, AL, US.
- 2020. Phase II Trial of HSV G207 with a Single 5 Gy Radiation Dose in Children with Recurrent High-Grade Glioma. Visiting, US.
- 2020. Bench-to-Bedside-to-Bench’ Translation of Oncolytic HSV-1 Immunovirotherapy to Target Pediatric Brain Tumors. Visiting, US.
- 2020. Phase II Trial of HSV G207 with a Single 5 Gy Radiation Dose in Children with Recurrent High-Grade Glioma. Visiting, US.
- 2020. Translating Immunovirotherapy from Bench-to-Bedside to Target Pediatric Brain Tumors. Visiting. Atlanta, GA, US.
- 2020. Targeting Pediatric Cancer Stem Cells with Immunovirotherapy. Visiting. Atlanta, GA, US.
- 2020. Immunovirotherapy Trials with Oncolytic HSV. Visiting. Orlando, FL, US.
- 2019. Immunotherapy Gone Viral: Targeting Pediatric Brain Tumors with Oncolytic Herpes Virotherapy. Visiting, US.
- 2019. Phase 1 Trial of Engineered HSV G207 in Children with Recurrent or Refractory Cerebellar Brain Tumors. Visiting. Nashville, TN, US.
- 2019. Oncolytic Immunovirotherapy Phase 1 Trial of HSV-1 G207 Combined with Nivolumab and Ipilimumab. Visiting. Atlanta, GA, US.
- 2019. Oncolytic HSV-1 and Checkpoint Inhibition to Target Pediatric Brain Tumors. Visiting, US.
- 2018. Immunotherapy Going Viral: Targeting Pediatric Brain Cancer with a Cold Sore Virus. Visiting. Birmingham, AL, US.
- 2018. Targeting Pediatric Brain cancer with a Cold Sore Virus. Visiting. Birmingham, AL, US.
- 2018. Immunotherapy Going Viral: Targeting Pediatric Brain Cancer with a Cold Sore Virus, Pediatric Medical Grand Rounds. Visiting. Augusta, GA, US.
- 2018. Immunotherapy Going Viral: Pediatric Brain Tumor Virotherapy Trials, “Translating Discoveries to Cure the Kids”. Visiting. Portland, OR, US.
- 2018. Targeting Pediatric Cancer Stem Cells with Immunovirotherapy. Visiting. New Orleans, LA, US.
- 2017. Immunovirotherapy to Target Pediatric Brain Tumors. Visiting. Atlanta, GA, US.
- 2017. Targeting Pediatric Cancer Stem Cells with Immunovirotherapy. Visiting. Atlanta, GA, US.
- 2016. Pediatric Cancer Gone Viral: Clinical Application of Oncolytic Virotherapy. Visiting, US.
- 2016. Pediatric Cancer Gone Viral: Clinical Application of Oncolytic Virotherapy. Visiting. Birmingham,, AL, US.
- 2015. Clinical Application of Oncolytic HSV to Target Malignant Pediatric Brain Tumors. Visiting. Birmingham, AL, US.
- 2015. Pediatric Cancer Stem Cells: Biologic Targeting Strategies with Oncolytic Virotherapy. Visiting. Ponce, PR, US.
- 2013. Pediatric Cancer Stem Cells: Biologic Targeting Strategies with Oncolytic Virotherapy. Visiting. Washington, DC, US.
- 2013. Targeting Pediatric Cancer Stem Cells with Herpes Simplex Virotherapy. Visiting. Ponce, PR, US.
- 2012. Targeting Pediatric Cancer Stem Cells with Oncolytic Virotherapy. Visiting. Washington, DC, US.
- 2009. Career Development. Invited, US.
- 2008. Glioma Progenitor Cells and Herpes Simplex Virus- Mechanisms of Therapeutic Resistance. Visiting. Nashville, TN, US.
- 2007. Glioma Progenitor Cells and Herpes Simplex Virus- Mechanisms of Therapeutic Resistance. Visiting. Birmingham, AL, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Phase 1 Immunovirotherapy Trial of M032 in Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Midline Glioma |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Targeting RNF2 to synergize with oncolytic immunovirotherapy to induce anti-cancer immunity in medulloblastoma |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Enhancing CAR-NK cell therapy against human pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) with preconditioning radiation therapy and radiosensitizers |
| Funding Source: | Hyundai Hope on Wheels |
| Role: | Key |
| ID: | FP00025468 |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Targeting RNF2 to Induce Anti-Cancer Immunity and Synergize with Oncolytic Virotherapy in Medulloblastoma and Associated Leptomeningeal Disease |
| Funding Source: | US Department of Defense |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Phase 1 Trial of Engineered oncolytic HSV-1 M032 in Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Midline Glioma |
| Funding Source: | US Department of Defense |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | CA240369 |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Interrogation of Brain Tumor Immunophenotypes with Expansion Microscopy |
| Funding Source: | Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Intranasal Delivery of Oncolytic HSV-1 in GBM |
| Funding Source: | US Department of Defense |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Targeting RNF2 to induce anti-cancer immunity and synergize with oncolytic HSV-1 in pediatric high- grade gliomas |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2024 - Present |
| Title: | Phase 1/2 trial of PEP-CMV + nivolumab for newly diagnosed diffuse midline glioma/high-grade glioma and recurrent diffuse midline glioma/high-grade glioma, medulloblastoma, and ependymoma (PRiME II) |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| ID: | R01CA296813 |
| Date: | 2024 - Present |
| Title: | Tumor expressed epigenetic regulator RNF2 as a novel immunotherapeutic target for pediatric high-grade gliomas |
| Funding Source: | UT MD Anderson SPORE in Brain Cancer |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2024 - Present |
| Title: | Interrogation of Brain Tumor Immunophenotypes with Expansion Microscopy |
| Funding Source: | Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2023 - Present |
| Title: | Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium A multi-institutional consortium devoted to novel phase I and II clinical evaluations of experimental treatment approaches for pediatric CNS tumors |
| Funding Source: | Treovir PBTC-061, Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2022 - Present |
| Title: | Targeting Acid Ceramidase to Improve the Efficacy of Herpes Oncolytic Virus |
| Funding Source: | R03NS128449, NINDS |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2022 - 2023 |
| Title: | Targeting Tumor Metabolism to Enhance Efficacy of Oncolytic HSV |
| Funding Source: | Kaul Pediatric Research Institute |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2022 - Present |
| Title: | Enhancement of Immunovirotherapy with Directed Drug Delivery for Treatment of Pediatric High-Grade Glioma |
| Funding Source: | Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2022 - Present |
| Title: | Enhancement of Oncolytic Virotherapy with Directed Drug Delivery for Pediatric Brain Tumors |
| Funding Source: | Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2022 - Present |
| Title: | Overcoming Immunotherapy Challenges to Target Leptomeningeal Disease |
| Funding Source: | National Pediatric Cancer Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2022 - Present |
| Title: | Overcoming the Adverse Microenvironment of Pediatric High-Grade Gliomas |
| Funding Source: | CureSearch for Children’s Cancer |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2021 - Present |
| Title: | Overcoming Immunotherapy Challenges in Pediatric Brain Tumors |
| Funding Source: | V Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2021 - Present |
| Title: | Advancing to a Phase 2 Clinical Trial for Pediatric Brain Tumors |
| Funding Source: | Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2021 - 2022 |
| Title: | Identifying oncolytic viral therapy resistance mechanisms in brain tumors |
| Funding Source: | American Brain Tumor Association |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Date: | 2021 - 2022 |
| Title: | Identifying Oncolytic Viral Therapy Resistance Mechanisms in Brain Tumors |
| Funding Source: | Cure Starts Now |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2020 - 2023 |
| Title: | Phase II Clinical Trial of G207 HSV To Treat Children with High Grade Gliomas |
| Funding Source: | R44CA250883, National Institutes of Health, Small Business Innovation Research |
| Role: | Study and site principal Investigator |
| Date: | 2020 - 2021 |
| Title: | Boosting Immunovirotherapy with Tumor Vaccination to Treat Pediatric Malignant Brain Tumors |
| Funding Source: | Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2019 - 2022 |
| Title: | Overcoming Myeloid Cell-Mediated Immunosuppression to Enhance Immunovirotherapy |
| Funding Source: | Hyundai Hope on Wheels |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2019 - Present |
| Title: | Ph1 Study of HSV G207 in Pediatric Malignant Cerebellar Tumors IND 16294 01/05/18 |
| Funding Source: | R01FD006368, National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, Office of Orphan Products Development |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R01FD006368 |
| Date: | 2019 - Present |
| Title: | Phase 1 Trial of Engineered HSV G207 in Children with Malignant Cerebellar Brain Tumors |
| Funding Source: | Cannonball Kids cancer Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2019 - 2022 |
| Title: | Maximizing the Anti-Tumor Immune Response from HSV Immunovirotherapy |
| Funding Source: | Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2019 - 2022 |
| Title: | Response measurement to oncolytic immunovirotherapy using amino acid PET |
| Funding Source: | UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center and the National Clinical Trial Network LAPS Program |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| ID: | 5P30CA013148-48 |
| Date: | 2018 - 2023 |
| Title: | NCI Pediatric Early Phase Clinical Trial Network (PEP-CTN) |
| Funding Source: | National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Subcontract UMICA097452 |
| Role: | Site Principal Investigator |
| Date: | 2018 - 2020 |
| Title: | Immunovirotherapy to Target Pediatric Brain Tumors |
| Funding Source: | Kaul Pediatric Research Institute |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2017 - 2020 |
| Title: | Expansion of G207 Clinical Trial |
| Funding Source: | Cannonball Kids’ Cancer Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2016 - 2018 |
| Title: | Enhancement of Immunovirotherapy with IDO Inhibition in Pediatric Medulloblastoma |
| Funding Source: | Hyundai Hope on Wheels |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2016 - 2018 |
| Title: | Targeting Pediatric Medulloblastoma with Engineered Herpes Simplex Virus |
| Funding Source: | Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research and the Truth 365 |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2016 - 2022 |
| Title: | Ph1 of HSV G207 and Radiation to Treat Pediatric Brain Tumors IND16294 |
| Funding Source: | National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, Office of Orphan Products Development |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R01FD005379 |
| Date: | 2015 - 2017 |
| Title: | Evaluation of a Novel RXR-Agonist in High-Risk Pediatric Medulloblastoma |
| Funding Source: | 5P30CA013148-40, UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Pilot Grant In Pediatric Cancer |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2015 - 2019 |
| Title: | Intraventricular Delivery of Engineered Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virotherapy to Treat Localized and Metastatic Pediatric Brain Tumors |
| Funding Source: | W81XWH-15-1-0108, Department of Defense |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2015 - 2016 |
| Title: | Targeting Pediatric Medulloblastoma with Engineered Herpes Simplex Virus |
| Funding Source: | Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research and the Truth 365 |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2015 - 2019 |
| Title: | Pilot Study of HSV G207 Alone or with Radiation in Children with Recurrent Brain Tumors |
| Funding Source: | Kaul Pediatric Research Institute |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2014 - 2015 |
| Title: | Targeting Pediatric Medulloblastoma with Engineered Herpes Simplex Virus |
| Funding Source: | Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research and the Vs. Cancer Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2013 - 2014 |
| Title: | Targeting Pediatric Medulloblastoma with Engineered Herpes Simplex Virus |
| Funding Source: | Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2012 - 2017 |
| Title: | Engineered Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virotherapy for Medulloblastomas |
| Funding Source: | St. Baldrick’s Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2011 - 2013 |
| Title: | Preclinical Testing of Engineered Herpes Simplex Virotherapy in Pediatric Brain Tumors |
| Funding Source: | Kaul Pediatric Research Institute |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2010 - 2013 |
| Title: | A Randomized, Phase 2 Study of Single-Agent Erlotinib Versus Oral Etoposide in Patients with Recurrent Pediatric Ependymoma |
| Funding Source: | OSI Pharmaceutical |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2010 - 2011 |
| Title: | Herpes Simplex Virotherapy for Pediatric Brain Tumors |
| Funding Source: | Hyundai Hope on Wheels |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2009 - 2011 |
| Title: | Effect of Oxygen Tension on Brain Tumor Initiating Cells |
| Funding Source: | Children’s Center for Research and Innovation |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2006 - 2008 |
| Title: | Sensitivity of Glioma Stem Cells to Engineered HSV |
| Funding Source: | Dixon Research Fellowship |
| Role: | PI |
| Title: | Evaluation of Clinically-Ready Oncolytic HSVs in Pediatric Brain Tumors |
| Funding Source: | Hyundai Hope on Wheels |
| Role: | PI |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Zhang, S, Jin, Y, Jia, Z, Xia, X, Li, Y, Wang, Q, Wang, J, Wang, J, Chandra, J, Friedman, GK, Li, S. Fgl2-knockout tumor cells serve as a vaccine inducing long-duration brain-resident memory T cells that reject subsequent intracranial tumor cell challenges. Cancer Letters 640, 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41380903.
- Spanehl, L, Grinda, T, Ramapriyan, R, Soni, H, Blitz, SE, Heesen, P, Jha, R, Nwagwu, CD, Gessler, F, Valdes, PA, Sammons, S, Bi, WL, Friedman, GK, Aizer, A, Chiocca, EA, Lin, NU, Bernstock, J. Treatment strategies for leptomeningeal disease in patients with breast cancer. Pharmacology and Therapeutics 276, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 41072667.
- Bernstock, J, Mehari, M, Jakob, JV, Meredith, DM, Valdes, PA, Heesen, P, Ambati, VS, Krishna, S, Chen, J, Arora, H, Johnston, BR, Negussie, M, Grieco, K, Nava Gonzales, C, Dada, A, Lebouille-Veldman, AB, Kabir, A, Spanehl, L, Kaur, J, Oten, S, Sibih, YE, Mekary, RA, Daniel, A, de Groot, JF, Izzy, S, Gessler, F, Stone, SS, Arnaout, O, Lu, Y, Choi, BD, Hall, MD, Mehta, MP, Odia, Y, Friedman, GK, Chiocca, EA, Peruzzi, PP, Smith, TR, Hervey-Jumper, S. Gabapentinoids confer survival benefit in human glioblastoma. Nature communications 16(1), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40374596.
- Dela Cruz, F, Fox, E, Dubois, SG, Friedman, GK, Croop, JM, Kim, A, Morgenstern, DA, Balis, FM, Macy, ME, Pressey, JG, Watt, TC, Krystal, J, Vo, KT, Mody, R, Laetsch, TW, Weigel, B, O'Hara, K, He, CS, Aluri, J, Okpara, CE, Glade Bender, JL. A Phase 1/2 Study of Lenvatinib in Combination With Everolimus in Recurrent and Refractory Pediatric and Young Adult Solid Tumors. Pediatric Blood and Cancer 72(7), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40313040.
- Fan, AE, Sultan, H, Kumai, T, Fesenkova, VI, Wu, J, Klement, JD, Bernstock, J, Friedman, GK, Celis, E. STAT5 Activation Enhances Adoptive Therapy Combined with Peptide Vaccination by Preventing PD-1 Inhibition. Molecular cancer therapeutics 24(3):419-430, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39582348.
- Friedman GK, Duan S, Apostolou PE, Wu X, Watanabe J, Gallitto M, Barron T, Taylor KR, Woo PJ, Hua X, Zhou H, Wei HJ, McQuillan N, Kang KD, Friedman GK, Canoll PD, Chang K, Wu CC, Hashizume R, Vakoc CR, Monje M, GMnd M, Gogos JA, Zhang Z. CHD2 Regulates Neuron-Glioma Interactions in Pediatric Glioma. Cancer Discov 14(9):1732-1754, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38767413.
- Bernstock JD, Gerstl JVE, Valdés PA, Friedman GK, Chiocca E. Next-generation CAR T cell therapies for glioblastoma. Sci Transl Med 16(762):eadp2660, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39196960.
- Bernstock JD, Karandikar PV, Chen JA, Seidlitz J, Friedman GK, Meredith DM, Liu KX, Haas-Kogan D, Reardon DA, Peruzzi PP. Case Report: Low-grade glioma with NF1 loss of function mimicking diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. Front Surg 11, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38840975.
- Totsch SK, Ishizuka AS, K-D K, Gary SE, Rocco A, Fan A, Zhou L, Valdes PA, Lee S, Li J, Peruzzotti-Jametti L, Blitz S, Garliss CM, Johnston JM, Markert JM, Lynn GM, Bernstock JD, Friedman GK. Combination Immunotherapy with Vaccine and Oncolytic HSV Virotherapy Is Time Dependent. Mol Cancer Ther 23(9):1273-1281, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38710101.
- Barkley, A, Butler, E, Park, C, Friedman, A, Landi, D, Ashley, DM, Bigner, D, Bernstock, J, Friedman, GK, Johnston, JM, Thompson, EM. The safety and accuracy of intratumoral catheter placement to infuse viral immunotherapies in children with malignant brain tumors. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics 33(4):359-366, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38215438.
- Thompson, EM, Kang, K, Stevenson, K, Zhang, H, Gromeier, M, Ashley, DM, Brown, MC, Friedman, GK. Elucidating cellular response to treatment with viral immunotherapies in pediatric high-grade glioma and medulloblastoma. Translational Oncology 40, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38183802.
- O'Halloran, K, Phadnis, SS, Friedman, GK, Metrock, K, Davidson, TB, Robison, NJ, Tamrazi, B, Cotter, JA, Dhall, G, Margol, AS. Effective re-induction regimen for children with recurrent medulloblastoma. Neuro-Oncology Advances 6(1), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38863988.
- Ibn Essayed W, Jarvis CA, Bernstock JD, Slingerland A, Albanese J, Friedman GK, Arnaout O, Baird L. Positioning Transclival Tumor-Treating Fields for the Treatment of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas. Life (Basel) 13(3), 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36983757.
- Segar DJ, Bernstock JD, Arnaout O, Bi WL, Friedman GK, Langer R, Traverso G, Rampersad SM. Modeling of intracranial tumor treating fields for the treatment of complex high-grade gliomas. Sci Rep 13(1):1636, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36717682.
- Bernstock JD, Blitz S, Kang KD, Friedman GK. Intraventricular immunovirotherapy; a translational step forward. Oncotarget 14:40-43, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36634220.
- Kang KD, Bernstock JD, Totsch SK, Gary SE, Rocco A, Nan L, Li R, Etminan T, Han X, Beierle EA, Eisemann T, Wechsler-Reya RJ, Bae S, Whitley R, Gillespie GY, Markert JM, Friedman GK. Safety and Efficacy of Intraventricular Immunovirotherapy with Oncolytic HSV-1 for CNS Cancers. Clin Cancer Res 28(24):5419-5430, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36239623.
- Rosenberg T, Yeo KK, Mauguen A, Alexandrescu S, Prabhu SP, Tsai JW, Malinowski S, Joshirao M, Parikh K, Farouk Sait S, Rosenblum MK, Benhamida JK, Michaiel G, Tran HN, Dahiya S, Kachurak K, Friedman GK, Krystal JI, Huang MA, Margol AS, Wright KD, Aguilera D, MacDonald TJ, Chi SN, Karajannis MA. Upfront molecular targeted therapy for the treatment of BRAF-mutant pediatric high-grade glioma. Neuro Oncol 24(11):1964-1975, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35397478.
- Macy, ME, Cash, T, Pinto, N, Pressey, JG, Szalontay, L, Furman, WL, Bukowinski, A, Foster, J, Friedman, GK, Haduong, J, Fox, E, Weigel, B, Grevel, J, Huang, F, Phelps, C, Childs, BH, Chung, J, Chaturvedi, S, Schulz, A, Dubois, SG. Phase I dose-escalation study of the pan-PI3 K inhibitor copanlisib in children and adolescents with relapsed/refractory solid tumors. European Journal of Cancer 174:S28-S29, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Quinn CH, Beierle AM, Hutchins SC, Marayati R, Bownes LV, Stewart JE, Markert HR, Erwin MH, Aye JM, Yoon KJ, Friedman GK, Willey CD, Markert JM, Beierle EA. Targeting High-Risk Neuroblastoma Patient-Derived Xenografts with Oncolytic Virotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 14(3), 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35159029.
- Li C, Liu Z, Zhang X, Wang H, Friedman GK, Ding Q, Zhao X, Li H, Kim K, Yu X, Burt Nabors L, Han X, Zhao R. Generation of chromosome 1p/19q co-deletion by CRISPR/Cas9-guided genomic editing. Neurooncol Adv 4(1):vdac131, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36225650.
- Friedman GK, Dhall G. Potential role of carbon ion radiotherapy in chromothripsis-induced medulloblastoma and other malignancies. Neuro Oncol 23(12):1991, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34605541.
- Graham RT, Abu-Arja MH, Stanek JR, Cappellano A, Coleman C, Chi S, Cooney T, Dhall G, Ellen JG, Finlay JL, Fisher MJ, Friedman GK, Gajjar A, Gauvain K, Hoffman LM, Hukin J, Lucas JT, Mueller S, Navalkele P, Ronsley R, Tinkle C, Villeneuve S, Yeo KK, Su JM, Margol A, Gottardo NG, Allen J, Packer R, Bartels U, Abdelbaki MS. Multi-institutional analysis of treatment modalities in basal ganglia and thalamic germinoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer 68(10):e29172, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34125480.
- Friedman GK, Johnston JM, Bag AK, Bernstock JD, Li R, Aban I, Kachurak K, Nan L, Kang KD, Totsch S, Schlappi C, Martin AM, Pastakia D, McNall-Knapp R, Farouk Sait S, Khakoo Y, Karajannis MA, Woodling K, Palmer JD, Osorio DS, Leonard J, Abdelbaki MS, Madan-Swain A, Atkinson TP, Whitley RJ, Fiveash JB, Markert JM, Gillespie GY. Oncolytic HSV-1 G207 Immunovirotherapy for Pediatric High-Grade Gliomas. N Engl J Med 384(17):1613-1622, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33838625.
- Che P, Yu L, Friedman GK, Wang M, Ke X, Wang H, Zhang W, Nabors B, Ding Q, Han X. Integrin αvβ3 Engagement Regulates Glucose Metabolism and Migration through Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) and Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) in Glioblastoma Cells. Cancers (Basel) 13(5), 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33807786.
- Bernstock JD, Bag AK, Fiveash J, Kachurak K, Elsayed G, Chagoya G, Gessler F, Valdes PA, Madan-Swain A, Whitley R, Markert JM, Gillespie GY, Johnston JM, Friedman GK. Design and Rationale for First-in-Human Phase 1 Immunovirotherapy Clinical Trial of Oncolytic HSV G207 to Treat Malignant Pediatric Cerebellar Brain Tumors. Hum Gene Ther 31(19-20):1132-1139, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32657154.
- Bernstock JD, Chagoya G, Elsayed GA, Fox BM, Mir N, Gupta S, Chua M, Atchley TJ, Lobbous M, Sotoudeh H, Hackney J, Friedman GK, Harrigan MR. Intraventricular metastatic melanoma: A case report and review of the literature. Clin Case Rep 8(9):1757-1764, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32983491.
- Bernstock JD, Vicario N, Li R, Nan L, Totsch SK, Schlappi C, Gessler F, Han X, Parenti R, Beierle EA, Whitley RJ, Aban I, Gillespie GY, Markert JM, Friedman GK. Safety and efficacy of oncolytic HSV-1 G207 inoculated into the cerebellum of mice. Cancer Gene Ther 27(3-4):246-255, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 30918335.
- Bernstock JD, Alva E, Cohen JL, Lobbous M, Chagoya G, Elsayed GA, Orr BA, Rozzelle C, Rocque B, Blount J, Johnston JM, Li R, Fiveash JB, Dhall G, Reddy AT, Friedman GK. Treatment of pediatric high-grade central nervous system tumors with high-dose methotrexate in combination with multiagent chemotherapy: A single-institution experience. Pediatr Blood Cancer 67(3):e28119, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31850678.
- Bernstock JD, Ostby S, Fox B, Sotoudeh H, Janssen A, Kang YJ, Chen J, Prattipati V, Elsayed G, Chagoya G, Yamashita D, Friedman GK, Nabors B, Huh WK, Lobbous M. Cauda equina syndrome in an ovarian malignant-mixed müllerian tumor with leptomeningeal spread. Clin Case Rep 7(12):2341-2345, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31893054.
- Bhatia S, Chen Y, Wong FL, Hageman L, Smith K, Korf B, Cannon A, Leidy DJ, Paz A, Andress JE, Friedman GK, Metrock K, Neglia JP, Arnold M, Turcotte LM, de Blank P, Leisenring W, Armstrong GT, Robison LL, Clapp DW, Shannon K, Nakamura JL, Fisher MJ. Subsequent Neoplasms After a Primary Tumor in Individuals With Neurofibromatosis Type 1. J Clin Oncol 37(32):3050-3058, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31532722.
- Williams AP, Garner EF, Stafman LL, Aye JM, Quinn CH, Marayati R, Stewart JE, Atigadda VR, Mroczek-Musulman E, Moore BP, Beierle EA, Friedman GK. UAB30, A Novel Rexinoid Agonist, Decreases Stemness In Group 3 Medulloblastoma Human Cell Line Xenografts. Transl Oncol 12(10):1364-1374, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31362265.
- Gessler F, Bernstock JD, Behmanesh B, Brunnberg U, Harter P, Ye D, Friedman GK, Hansmann ML, Wagner M, Seifert V, Weise L, Marquardt G. The Impact of Early Corticosteroid Pretreatment Before Initiation of Chemotherapy in Patients With Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma. Neurosurgery 85(2):264-272, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30016483.
- Bernstock JD, Cohen JL, Singh S, Schlappi CW, Fiveash JB, Johnston JM, Fequiere P, Orr BA, Li R, Friedman GK. Treatment-induced remission of medulloblastoma using a chemotherapeutic regimen devoid of vincristine in a child with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Curr Oncol 26(2):e266-e269, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31043836.
- Bernstock JD, Peruzzotti-Jametti L, Leonardi T, Vicario N, Ye D, Lee YJ, Maric D, Johnson KR, Mou Y, Van Den Bosch A, Winterbone M, Friedman GK, Franklin RJM, Hallenbeck JM, Pluchino S. SUMOylation promotes survival and integration of neural stem cell grafts in ischemic stroke. EBioMedicine 42:214-224, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30905846.
- Bernstock JD, Wright Z, Bag AK, Gessler F, Gillespie GY, Markert JM, Friedman GK, Johnston JM. Stereotactic Placement of Intratumoral Catheters for Continuous Infusion Delivery of Herpes Simplex Virus -1 G207 in Pediatric Malignant Supratentorial Brain Tumors. World Neurosurg 122:e1592-e1598, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30481622.
- Liu Z, Che P, Mercado JJ, Hackney JR, Friedman GK, Zhang C, You Z, Zhao X, Ding Q, Kim K, Li H, Liu X, Markert JM, Nabors B, Gillespie GY, Zhao R, Han X. Characterization of iPSCs derived from low grade gliomas revealed early regional chromosomal amplifications during gliomagenesis. J Neurooncol 141(2):289-301, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30460631.
- Bernstock JD, Vicario N, Rong L, Valdes PA, Choi BD, Chen JA, DiToro D, Osorio DS, Kachurak K, Gessler F, Johnston JM, Atkinson TP, Whitley RJ, Bag AK, Gillespie GY, Markert JM, Maric D, Friedman GK. A novel in situ multiplex immunofluorescence panel for the assessment of tumor immunopathology and response to virotherapy in pediatric glioblastoma reveals a role for checkpoint protein inhibition. Oncoimmunology 8(12):e1678921, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31741780.
- Garner EF, Stafman LL, Williams AP, Aye JM, Goolsby C, Atigadda VR, Moore BP, Nan L, Stewart JE, Hjelmeland AB, Friedman GK, Beierle EA. UAB30, a novel RXR agonist, decreases tumorigenesis and leptomeningeal disease in group 3 medulloblastoma patient-derived xenografts. J Neurooncol 140(2):209-224, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30132166.
- Friedman GK, Bernstock JD, Chen D, Nan L, Moore BP, Kelly VM, Youngblood SL, Langford CP, Han X, Ring EK, Beierle EA, Gillespie GY, Markert JM. Enhanced Sensitivity of Patient-Derived Pediatric High-Grade Brain Tumor Xenografts to Oncolytic HSV-1 Virotherapy Correlates with Nectin-1 Expression. Sci Rep 8(1):13930, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30224769.
- Garner EF, Williams AP, Stafman LL, Aye JM, Mroczek-Musulman E, Moore BP, Stewart JE, Friedman GK, Beierle EA. FTY720 Decreases Tumorigenesis in Group 3 Medulloblastoma Patient-Derived Xenografts. Sci Rep 8(1):6913, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29720672.
- Bernstock JD, Ye DG, Lee YJ, Gessler F, Friedman GK, Zheng W, Hallenbeck JM. Drugging SUMOylation for neuroprotection and oncotherapy. Neural Regen Res 13(3):415-416, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29623920.
- Monroe K, Cohen CT, Whelan K, King A, Maloney L, Deason J, Nichols JC, Friedman GK, Kutny M, Hayes L. Quality Initiative to Improve time to Antibiotics for Febrile Pediatric Patients with Potential Neutropenia. Pediatr Qual Saf 3(4):e095, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30229205.
- Ring EK, Li R, Moore BP, Nan L, Kelly VM, Han X, Beierle EA, Markert JM, Leavenworth JW, Gillespie GY, Friedman GK. Newly Characterized Murine Undifferentiated Sarcoma Models Sensitive to Virotherapy with Oncolytic HSV-1 M002. Mol Ther Oncolytics 7:27-36, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29034313.
- Friedman GK, Markert JM, Gillespie GY. Combination strategies enhance oncolytic virotherapy. Oncotarget 8(21):34020-34021, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28487503.
- Baddam S, Cutter GR, Wolfson JA, Friedman GK, Lebensburger JD. Publication outcomes of abstracts from the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting. Am J Hematol 92(5):E81-E83, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28224669.
- Waters AM, Johnston JM, Reddy AT, Fiveash J, Madan-Swain A, Kachurak K, Bag AK, Gillespie GY, Markert JM, Friedman GK. Rationale and Design of a Phase 1 Clinical Trial to Evaluate HSV G207 Alone or with a Single Radiation Dose in Children with Progressive or Recurrent Malignant Supratentorial Brain Tumors. Hum Gene Ther Clin Dev 28(1):7-16, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28319448.
- Bernstock JD, Ye DG, Griffin A, Lee YJ, Lynch J, Latour LL, Friedman GK, Maric D, Hallenbeck JM. Cerebral Ischemia Increases Small Ubiquitin-Like Modifier Conjugation within Human Penumbral Tissue: Radiological-Pathological Correlation. Front Neurol 8:738, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29375471.
- Cohen C, King A, Lin CP, Friedman GK, Monroe K, Kutny M. Protocol for Reducing Time to Antibiotics in Pediatric Patients Presenting to an Emergency Department With Fever and Neutropenia: Efficacy and Barriers. Pediatr Emerg Care 32(11):739-745, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 25822237.
- Waters AM, Stafman LL, Garner EF, Mruthyunjayappa S, Stewart JE, Friedman GK, Coleman JM, Markert JM, Gillespie GY, Beierle EA. Effect of Repeat Dosing of Engineered Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus on Preclinical Models of Rhabdomyosarcoma. Transl Oncol 9(5):419-430, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27751346.
- Friedman GK, Moore BP, Nan L, Kelly VM, Etminan T, Langford CP, Xu H, Han X, Markert JM, Beierle EA, Gillespie GY. Pediatric medulloblastoma xenografts including molecular subgroup 3 and CD133+ and CD15+ cells are sensitive to killing by oncolytic herpes simplex viruses. Neuro Oncol 18(2):227-35, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26188016.
- Bag AK, Kim H, Gao Y, Bolding M, Warren PP, Fathallah-Shaykh HM, Gurler D, Markert JM, Fiveash J, Beasley TM, Khawaja A, Friedman GK, Chapman PR, Nabors LB, Han X. Prolonged treatment with bevacizumab is associated with brain atrophy: a pilot study in patients with high-grade gliomas. J Neurooncol 122(3):585-93, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25711673.
- Friedman GK. Attack of the cancer-killing viruses: clinical application of oncolytic virotherapy in children. Pediatr Blood Cancer 62(5):739-40, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25663349.
- Cripe TP, Chen CY, Denton NL, Haworth KB, Hutzen B, Leddon JL, Streby KA, Wang PY, Markert JM, Waters AM, Gillespie GY, Beierle EA, Friedman GK. Pediatric cancer gone viral. Part I: strategies for utilizing oncolytic herpes simplex virus-1 in children. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2:15015-, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26436135.
- Friedman GK, Beierle EA, Gillespie GY, Markert JM, Waters AM, Chen CY, Denton NL, Haworth KB, Hutzen B, Leddon JL, Streby KA, Wang PY, Cripe TP. Pediatric cancer gone viral. Part II: potential clinical application of oncolytic herpes simplex virus-1 in children. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2:15016-, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26436134.
- Han X, Zhang W, Yang X, Wheeler CG, Langford CP, Wu L, Filippova N, Friedman GK, Ding Q, Fathallah-Shaykh HM, Gillespie GY, Nabors LB. The role of Src family kinases in growth and migration of glioma stem cells. Int J Oncol 45(1):302-10, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24819299.
- Han X, Li R, Zhang W, Yang X, Wheeler CG, Friedman GK, Province P, Ding Q, You Z, Fathallah-Shaykh HM, Gillespie GY, Zhao X, King PH, Nabors LB. Expression of PRMT5 correlates with malignant grade in gliomas and plays a pivotal role in tumor growth in vitro. J Neurooncol 118(1):61-72, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24664369.
- Smith TT, Roth JC, Friedman GK, Gillespie GY. Oncolytic viral therapy: targeting cancer stem cells. Oncolytic Virother 2014(3):21-33, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24834430.
- Megison ML, Gillory LA, Stewart JE, Nabers HC, Mroczek-Musulman E, Waters AM, Coleman JM, Kelly V, Markert JM, Gillespie GY, Friedman GK, Beierle EA. Preclinical evaluation of engineered oncolytic herpes simplex virus for the treatment of pediatric solid tumors. PLoS One 9(1):e86843, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24497984.
- Friedman GK, Spiller SE, Harrison DK, Fiveash JB, Reddy AT. Treatment of children with glioblastoma with conformal radiation, temozolomide, and bevacizumab as adjuncts to surgical resection. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 35(3):e123-6, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23425999.
- Pressey JG, Haas MC, Pressey CS, Kelly VM, Parker JN, Gillespie GY, Friedman GK. CD133 marks a myogenically primitive subpopulation in rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines that are relatively chemoresistant but sensitive to mutant HSV. Pediatr Blood Cancer 60(1):45-52, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 22408058.
- Gillory LA, Megison ML, Stewart JE, Mroczek-Musulman E, Nabers HC, Waters AM, Kelly V, Coleman JM, Markert JM, Gillespie GY, Friedman GK, Beierle EA. Preclinical evaluation of engineered oncolytic herpes simplex virus for the treatment of neuroblastoma. PLoS One 8(10):e77753, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24130898.
- Friedman GK, Raborn J, Kelly VM, Cassady KA, Markert JM, Gillespie GY. Pediatric glioma stem cells: biologic strategies for oncolytic HSV virotherapy. Front Oncol 3:28, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23450706.
- Friedman GK, Haas MC, Kelly VM, Markert JM, Gillespie GY, Cassady KA. Hypoxia Moderates γ(1)34.5-Deleted Herpes Simplex Virus Oncolytic Activity in Human Glioma Xenoline Primary Cultures. Transl Oncol 5(3):200-7, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22741039.
- Cook R, Berkow RL, Kelly DR, Friedman GK. Long-term complete response after treatment with cytarabine, vincristine, and prednisone in an infant with refractory multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Pediatr Blood Cancer 57(1):180-1, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21412968.
- Walsh AM, Fiveash JB, Reddy AT, Friedman GK. Response to radiation in renal medullary carcinoma. Rare Tumors 3(3):e32, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 22066039.
- Friedman GK, Gillespie GY. Cancer Stem Cells and Pediatric Solid Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 3(1):298-318, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21394230.
- Walsh A, Kelly DR, Vaid YN, Hilliard LM, Friedman GK. Complete response to carboplatin, gemcitabine, and paclitaxel in a patient with advanced metastatic renal medullary carcinoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer 55(6):1217-20, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20979179.
- Friedman GK, Langford CP, Coleman JM, Cassady KA, Parker JN, Markert JM, Yancey Gillespie G. Engineered herpes simplex viruses efficiently infect and kill CD133+ human glioma xenograft cells that express CD111. J Neurooncol 95(2):199-209, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19521665.
- Friedman GK, Hammers Y, Reddy V, Pressey JG. Myelofibrosis in a patient with familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Pediatr Blood Cancer 50(6):1260-2, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18253962.
Review Articles
- Elgehiny, A, Fan, AE, Frost, M, He, J, Gary, S, Osorio, DS, Zaky, W, Zhou, L, Kang, K, Zhang, Z, Fueyo-Margareto, J, Gomez-Manzano, C, Thompson, EM, Bernstock, J, Friedman, GK. Clinical and translational progress in oncolytic virotherapy for pediatric CNS tumors. Journal of neuro-oncology 177(1), 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41741902.
- Bernstock, J, Dadario, NB, Valdes, PA, Gerstl, J, Johnston, BR, Spanehl, L, Gessler, F, Peruzzi, PP, Smith, TR, Friedman, GK, Bi, WL, Chiocca, EA, Aizer, A, Arnaout, O. Reassessing the Management of Treatment-Induced Brain Necrosis in Metastatic Patients. Neurosurgery Practice 6, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 41200532.
- He, J, Connors, JS, Meador, A, Xu, S, Meador, H, Jiang, H, Fueyo-Margareto, J, Gomez-Manzano, C, Friedman, GK, Zaky, W, Sadighi, ZS, Slopis, JM, Ahmad, AH. Immunotherapy-related neurotoxicity in the central nervous system of children with cancer. Neuro-oncology 27(3):625-643, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39535217.
- Price, A, Bernstock, J, Truong, N, Wu, K, Lee, JY, Tucker, IJ, Gessler, F, Desena, S, Friedman, GK, Valdes, PA. Fluorescence-Guided Surgery Using 5-Aminolevulinic Acid/Protoporphyrin IX in Brain Metastases. Neurosurgery Practice 5(4), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39959547.
- Chang, C, Chavarro, VS, Gerstl, J, Blitz, SE, Spanehl, L, Dubinski, D, Valdes, PA, Tran, LN, Gupta, S, Esposito, L, Mazzetti, D, Gessler, F, Arnaout, O, Smith, TR, Friedman, GK, Peruzzi, PP, Bernstock, J. Recurrent Glioblastoma—Molecular Underpinnings and Evolving Treatment Paradigms. International journal of molecular sciences 25(12), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38928445.
- Low, JT, Brown, MC, Reitman, ZJ, Bernstock, J, Markert, JM, Friedman, GK, Waitkus, M, Bowie, M, Ashley, DM. Understanding and therapeutically exploiting cGAS/STING signaling in glioblastoma. Journal of Clinical Investigation 134(2), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38226619.
- Bernstock JD, Blitz SE, Hoffman SE, Gerstl JVE, Chiocca EA, Friedman GK. Recent oncolytic virotherapy clinical trials outline a roadmap for the treatment of high-grade glioma. Neurooncol Adv 5(1):vdad081, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37497017.
- Karandikar PV, Suh L, Gerstl JVE, Blitz SE, Qu QR, Won SY, Gessler FA, Arnaout O, Smith TR, Peruzzi PP, Yang W, Friedman GK, Bernstock JD. Positioning SUMO as an immunological facilitator of oncolytic viruses for high-grade glioma. Front Cell Dev Biol 11:1271575, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37860820.
- Segar DJ, Bernstock JD, Rampersad S, Bi WL, Arnaout O, Friedman GK, Chiocca EA. Intracranial stimulation for brain cancer-The case for implantable, intracranial tumor treating fields. Neurooncol Adv 5(1):vdad100, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37706199.
- Yearley AG, Blitz SE, Patel RV, Chan A, Baird LC, Friedman GK, Arnaout O, Smith TR, Bernstock JD. Machine Learning in the Classification of Pediatric Posterior Fossa Tumors: A Systematic Review. Cancers (Basel) 14(22), 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36428701.
- Ghajar-Rahimi G, Kang KD, Totsch SK, Gary S, Rocco A, Blitz S, Kachurak K, Chambers MR, Li R, Beierle EA, Bag A, Johnston JM, Markert JM, Bernstock JD, Friedman GK. Clinical advances in oncolytic virotherapy for pediatric brain tumors. Pharmacol Ther 239:108193, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35487285.
- Jones AB, Rocco A, Lamb LS, Friedman GK, Hjelmeland AB. Regulation of NKG2D Stress Ligands and Its Relevance in Cancer Progression. Cancers (Basel) 14(9), 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35565467.
- Bernstock JD, Kang KD, Klinger NV, Olsen HE, Gary S, Totsch SK, Ghajar-Rahimi G, Segar D, Thompson EM, Darley-Usmar V, Mott BT, Peruzzotti-Jametti L, Friedman GK. Targeting oncometabolism to maximize immunotherapy in malignant brain tumors. Oncogene 41(19):2663-2671, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35430605.
- Blitz SE, Kappel AD, Gessler FA, Klinger NV, Arnaout O, Lu Y, Peruzzi PP, Smith TR, Chiocca EA, Friedman GK, Bernstock JD. Tumor-Associated Macrophages/Microglia in Glioblastoma Oncolytic Virotherapy: A Double-Edged Sword. Int J Mol Sci 23(3), 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35163730.
- Bernstock JD, Hoffman SE, Kappel AD, Valdes PA, Essayed W, Klinger NV, Kang KD, Totsch SK, Olsen HE, Schlappi CW, Filipski K, Gessler FA, Baird L, Filbin MG, Hashizume R, Becher OJ, Friedman GK. Immunotherapy approaches for the treatment of diffuse midline gliomas. Oncoimmunology 11(1):2124058, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36185807.
- Bernstock JD, Gary SE, Klinger N, Valdes PA, Ibn Essayed W, Olsen HE, Chagoya G, Elsayed G, Yamashita D, Schuss P, Gessler FA, Paolo Peruzzi P, Bag AK, Friedman GK. Standard clinical approaches and emerging modalities for glioblastoma imaging. Neurooncol Adv 4(1):vdac080, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35821676.
- Estevez-Ordonez D, Chagoya G, Salehani A, Atchley TJ, Laskay NMB, Parr MS, Elsayed GA, Mahavadi AK, Rahm SP, Friedman GK, Markert JM. Immunovirotherapy for the Treatment of Glioblastoma and Other Malignant Gliomas. Neurosurg Clin N Am 32(2):265-281, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33781507.
- Boyd NH, Tran AN, Bernstock JD, Etminan T, Jones AB, Gillespie GY, Friedman GK, Hjelmeland AB. Glioma stem cells and their roles within the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Theranostics 11(2):665-683, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33391498.
- Olsen HE, Lynn GM, Valdes PA, Cerecedo Lopez CD, Ishizuka AS, Arnaout O, Bi WL, Peruzzi PP, Chiocca EA, Friedman GK, Bernstock JD. Therapeutic cancer vaccines for pediatric malignancies: advances, challenges, and emerging technologies. Neurooncol Adv 3(1):vdab027, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33860227.
- Schlappi C, Bernstock JD, Ricketts W, Nix GA, Poole C, Lebensburger J, Friedman GK. Roseomonas gilardii Bacteremia in a Patient With HbSβ0-thalassemia: Clinical Implications and Literature Review. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 42(5):e385-e387, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 30951022.
- Lobbous M, Bernstock JD, Coffee E, Friedman GK, Metrock LK, Chagoya G, Elsayed G, Nakano I, Hackney JR, Korf BR, Nabors LB. An Update on Neurofibromatosis Type 1-Associated Gliomas. Cancers (Basel) 12(1), 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31906320.
- Totsch SK, Schlappi C, Kang KD, Ishizuka AS, Lynn GM, Fox B, Beierle EA, Whitley RJ, Markert JM, Gillespie GY, Bernstock JD, Friedman GK. Oncolytic herpes simplex virus immunotherapy for brain tumors: current pitfalls and emerging strategies to overcome therapeutic resistance. Oncogene 38(34):6159-6171, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31289361.
- Fox BM, Janssen A, Estevez-Ordonez D, Gessler F, Vicario N, Chagoya G, Elsayed G, Sotoudeh H, Stetler W, Friedman GK, Bernstock JD. SUMOylation in Glioblastoma: A Novel Therapeutic Target. Int J Mol Sci 20(8), 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30991648.
- Sotoudeh H, Shafaat O, Bernstock JD, Brooks MD, Elsayed GA, Chen JA, Szerip P, Chagoya G, Gessler F, Sotoudeh E, Shafaat A, Friedman GK. Artificial Intelligence in the Management of Glioma: Era of Personalized Medicine. Front Oncol 9:768, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31475111.
- Sorge C, Li R, Singh S, Reddy AT, Solomon DA, Perry A, Friedman GK. Complete durable response of a pediatric anaplastic oligodendroglioma to temozolomide alone: Case report and review of literature. Pediatr Blood Cancer 64(12), 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28696020.
- Foreman PM, Friedman GK, Cassady KA, Markert JM. Oncolytic Virotherapy for the Treatment of Malignant Glioma. Neurotherapeutics 14(2):333-344, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28265902.
- Ring EK, Markert JM, Gillespie GY, Friedman GK. Checkpoint Proteins in Pediatric Brain and Extracranial Solid Tumors: Opportunities for Immunotherapy. Clin Cancer Res 23(2):342-350, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 27836863.
- Waters AM, Friedman GK, Ring EK, Beierle EA. Oncolytic virotherapy for pediatric malignancies: future prospects. Oncolytic Virother 5:73-80, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27579298.
- Friedman GK, Cassady KA, Beierle EA, Markert JM, Gillespie GY. Targeting pediatric cancer stem cells with oncolytic virotherapy. Pediatr Res 71(4 Pt 2):500-10, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22430386.
- Friedman GK, Pressey JG, Reddy AT, Markert JM, Gillespie GY. Herpes simplex virus oncolytic therapy for pediatric malignancies. Mol Ther 17(7):1125-35, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19367259.
- Friedman GK, Castleberry RP. Changing trends of research and treatment in infant neuroblastoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer 49(7 Suppl):1060-5, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 17943963.
Other Articles
- Bernstock, J, Johnston, BR, Friedman, GK, Antonio Chiocca, E, Langer, R, Srinivasan, SS Leveraging next-generation materials for cancer neuroscience therapies in the central nervous system. Nature Reviews Materials 9(5):298-300, 2024. PMID: 39234424.
- Segar, DJ, Bernstock, J, Arnaout, O, Bi, WL, Friedman, GK, Langer, R, Traverso, G, Rampersad, SM Modeling of intracranial tumor treating fields for the treatment of complex high-grade gliomas (Scientific Reports, (2023), 13, 1, (1636), 10.1038/s41598-023-28769-9). Scientific reports 13(1), 2023. PMID: 36894660.
Abstracts
- Friedman GK, Gillespie GY, Pressey JG. Human rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines contain myogenically primitive CD133+ cells that are sensitive to killing by engineered herpes simplex virus. 2009 ASPHO Abstracts. Pediatr Blood Cancer, 2009. e-Pub 2009.
- Friedman GK, Bharara S, Langford C, Coleman J, Gillespie GY. Engineered herpes simplex virus oncolytic therapy kills both tumor cells and glioma progenitor cells in a pediatric high-grade glioma. Abstracts from the Thirteenth International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, 2008. e-Pub 2008.
- Friedman GK, Bharara S, Langford C, Coleman J, Gillespie GY. Heterogeneity of CD111 (nectin-1) expression governs infection of human glioma tumor or progenitor cells by genetically engineered herpes simplex virus (HSV). Abstracts for the Twelfth Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuro-Oncology, 2007. e-Pub 2007.
Book Chapters
- Ring EK, Gillespie GY, Friedman GK. In: Pediatric Malignancies. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Cancer. Ed. Fumito Ito, Ed. Mark Ernstoff St. Louis: Elsevier, 193-204, 2019.
Books (edited and written)
- Keating RF, Goodrich JT, J Packer AR. Tumors of the Pediatric Central Nervous System. Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc, 2013.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 22, 2026