Two UTSW principal investigators received $3 million in research funding from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas to study kidney cancer development and treatment.
Raquibul Hannan, M.D., Ph.D., Kidney Cancer Program Co-Leader of Radiation Oncology, received nearly $2 million for his proposal, Maximizing Anti-tumor Immunity through Simultaneous Activation of the Innate and Adaptive Immune System. Dr. Hannan’s proposal extends studies proposed in Project 3 of the SPORE which combines a novel drug, IMSA101, developed by Zhijian Chen, Ph.D. at UTSW, to activate the innate immune system together with radiation therapy and an immune checkpoint inhibitor in a phase 2 clinical trial. Dr. Hannan’s research seeks to explore the impact of combined activation of the innate and adaptive immune system in patients with suboptimal response to ICI treatment.
Qing Zhang, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pathology, received over $1 million to study JMJD6-DGAT1 Signaling Axis Regulates Lipid Droplets and Tumorigenesis in ccRCC. Dr. Zhang’s research investigates the role of the JMJD6-DGAT1 pathway and lipid metabolism in ccRCC.
Additionally, UTSW researchers received over $15 million in other CPRIT awards across the board for cancer research.
