Texas A&M Awarded $9 M in Cancer Research Funding from CPRIT

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) awarded more than $9 million in research grants to Texas A&M University. Of the $9,057,870 in funding from CPRIT, more than $7.7 million is for academic research and $1.35 million is for a prevention grant. Eight grants were awarded by CPRIT. The largest was $5,793,075 to the recently established Center for Advanced Microscopy and Image Informatics (CAMII) in the Institute of Biosciences and Technology, College of Medicine.  

(Image courtsey of Wikimedia Commons)

This collaborative core facility provides cancer investigators with access to sophisticated light microscopy-based imaging and computational resources for both basic and translational research. It is led Michael A. Mancini, PhD. adjunct professor and Peter J. Davies MD, PhD, professor and director of the Institute of Biosciences and Technology.

“By promoting highly collaborative and productive partnerships between experts in advanced imaging research and outstanding cancer researchers, CAMII will support CPRIT’s goal of promoting innovation in cancer research and accelerating the development of breakthroughs in the search for new ways to prevent or to treat cancer,” Mancini said in an article for Vital Record. “The ability to rapidly image three-dimensional structures requires a new generation of imaging platforms; this grant will provide us with the resources and expertise we need to accelerate the scale and the scope of cancer-based drug discovery research.”

Major Equipment housed at CAMMII:

• Nikon A1si - Spectral Confocal with 3-Ch TIRF upgrade and live cell incubator.
• DeltaVision Elite - deconvolution microscope with hi-res, hi-speed CCDs and live cell incubator.
• • IN Cell Analyzer 6000 - automated laser-based confocal imaging platform for high-content assays and screens. 
• • Imaris and GE ImageQuant TL - data visualization, analysis, segmentation and interpretation of 3D and 4D microscopy datasets.
• • Nikon Ni upright with epi, DIC, 100X objective. Color and grayscale cameras.
• • Nikon SMZ18 stereofluorescence (dissecting) scope, camera compatible.  

• $915,000 award to Robert Tsai for a study called, “Chemoablation of High-Risk Oral Premalignant Lesions for Sustained Cancer Prevention.” The project will support developing a non-invasive product to destroy mouth lesions that present a high risk of becoming cancerous.
• $200,000 to Yi Xu for “Identify Streptococcus gallolyticus Factors Important for Promoting Colorectal Tumor Development.” The funds will support research into how intestinal microbes may contribute to colorectal cancer.
• $200,000 to Yubin Zhou for “Optogenetic Toolkit for Precise Epigenome Editing in Cancer Cells.” The project will devise technology for locating and removing abnormal DNA within human genomes.
• $200,000 to Pushkar Lele for “Etiology and Prevention of Gastric Cancers by Mitigation of H pylori Mechanosensing.” The project will conduct research into preventing gastric cancer through targeted mechanosensitive enzymes.
• $199,795 to Andrew Phillip West for “Mitochondrial DNA Instability Engages a Cancer-Related Interferon Program to Modify the Immune Microenvironment and NAD+ Metabolome and Enhance Melanoma Growth.” The project will study how instability in mitochondrial DNA may encourage the growth of melanoma.

Texas A&M Interim Vice President for Research Karen Butler-Purry stated in an article for research@TexasA& M, “We share an ultimate goal with CPRIT: to substantially impact breakthroughs to cure cancer in Texas, across the nation, and around the world.”

Researchers Meet with Laboratory Suppliers at Texas A&M, College Station Bioresearch Product Faire:

On Wednesday, January 30th, 2019  Biotechnology Calendar, Inc. will host the 18th annual BioResearch Product Faire™ at Texas A&M University. Life science professionals are invited to attend the event for free.  Come learn about the latest in laboratory equipment and see demonstrations of how these new tools and techniques can assist with your research. For more information about this on campus trade fair and to pre-register click the button below.  

This event gives laboratory product and chemical supply companies the opportunity to meet face to face with active researchers and discuss their equipment needs. It  allows lab suppliers to display and demonstrate their new products so that scientists can see how they meet their research equipment needs. To participate click the button below: