Seven researchers from UTHealth Houston have been awarded nearly $10 million in grants from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The funding supports a range of projects aimed at advancing cancer research and prevention throughout Texas.
Five of the grants are led by faculty from the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, with three managed through partnerships between the Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research and the UTHealth Houston Institute for Implementation Science. McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston leads two additional grants focused on cancer’s effects on the body and developing new treatment options.
John Hancock, senior vice president for research strategy and innovation at UTHealth Houston, commented on the awards: “This outstanding performance by our talented faculty during this current CPRIT round demonstrates the strength of cancer research across all our schools at UTHealth Houston.”
With this latest funding round, CPRIT's total investment in cancer initiatives has surpassed $4 billion. This makes it the largest state-funded program of its kind in the United States, second only to federal support from the National Cancer Institute. Since its founding in 2007, CPRIT has recruited hundreds of investigators, supported companies relocating or expanding in Texas, and enabled millions of prevention services statewide.
The following are highlights from some funded projects:
- Gayla Ferguson leads a breast cancer screening program with a focus on rural and minority women in central Texas counties. The project will use a mobile mammography unit to reach women living more than 20 miles from existing clinics. Ferguson said: “Beyond central Texas women getting lifesaving preventive, diagnostic, and restorative care, I anticipate new partnerships being forged with health care providers, community-based organizations, and faith-based organizations operating in Central Texas, opening the door for all UTHealth Houston School of Public Health locations to support and assist these communities.” She added: “I also hope Texans will get a more accurate view of the dedication and hearts of public health practitioners.”
- Jooyeon Hwang received funding to study whether immediate decontamination practices after fires can reduce firefighters’ exposure to carcinogens. Hwang stated: “This approach could lead to new fire department policies and protect thousands of firefighters across Texas and beyond. By providing direct evidence that simple practices can reduce cancer-causing exposures, this initiative moves us one step closer to ensuring firefighters do not have to sacrifice their long-term health to save lives.”
- María E. Fernández leads ACCESS, an initiative collaborating with Federally Qualified Health Centers to improve colorectal cancer screening rates among underserved populations in East and South Texas. Fernández explained: “This prevention services grant will embed proven interventions into existing health systems to make sure we are doing all we can to prevent and control colorectal cancer.” She continued: “Such improvements are critical for Texas, which ranks among the lowest in colorectal cancer screening. By working closely with our clinical and community partners, we’ll improve prevention and early detection for this common cancer and reduce the burden for Texans — particularly those in communities facing the greatest barriers to care. In the long term, this project will create sustainable models that can be scaled statewide, ensuring a lasting impact on population health.”
- Xin Ge is developing antibody-drug conjugates capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier as potential treatments for brain metastases originating from breast or lung cancers. Ge noted: “Most patients and their families fear brain metastases and feel quite hopeless as they know that once cancer moves to the brain the possibility of successful treatment is low,” adding that his work addresses an underexplored area that could shift therapeutic strategies if successful.
- Yi-Ping Li’s research focuses on understanding how certain pathways contribute to muscle wasting caused by cancer cachexia; he aims to test whether existing drugs might reverse these effects. Li said: “Previous efforts in cancer cachexia research were largely focused on skeletal muscle catabolism. How cancer impairs skeletal muscle anabolism has remained poorly understood.” He emphasized: “Mitigating impairment...is particularly important for reversing muscle wasting...The success of the current project will pave the way to clinical testing for intervening cancer-induced anabolic resistance...by repurposing existing drugs.”
- Andrea Ramirez Varela’s team is working with rural clinics across South Texas to boost physical activity among patients as part of broader breast and colorectal cancer prevention efforts. Ramirez Varela said: “Patients in these rural communities will receive personalized guidance to become more physically active, which can lower their risk of breast and colorectal cancer.” She added her hopes that this model could be expanded elsewhere.
- Lara Savas leads "Health in My Hands," aiming to increase breast and cervical cancer screenings among medically underserved women using community health workers across several regions including East Texas, northeast Texas, Panhandle areas, and Greater Houston. Savas stated: “This initiative ensures no woman is left behind in cancer prevention and early detection.” She also remarked: “By expanding...community health workers...will offer behavioral education...to help women receive recommended screenings...”
These projects underscore UTHealth Houston’s ongoing role in supporting both scientific discovery related to cancers as well as practical measures designed for early detection among vulnerable populations.
