The University of Texas at Austin and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have launched a joint initiative, the Collaborative Accelerator for Transformative Research Endeavors, to enable groundbreaking research projects that align complementary strengths to improve cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survival.
The two institutions announced that the Accelerator program has awarded funding to five teams to support research projects aimed at addressing some of the most pressing unmet needs in oncology.
“We want to capitalize on the unparalleled talent and expertise that can only be enabled through a collaboration between UT Austin and MD Anderson,” said Jim Davis, interim president of UT Austin. “The goal of this grant program is to accelerate discoveries and identify research initiatives that can grow to scale and break new ground.”
This initiative builds upon the success of a pilot program launched in 2021, which provided seed funding for joint research projects between MD Anderson and UT Austin.
“We are pleased to continue supporting exceptional research that brings together the brightest minds from our two stellar institutions,” said Giulio Draetta, M.D., Ph.D., chief scientific officer at MD Anderson. “Through these projects, we aim to translate groundbreaking scientific discoveries into clinical advances that improve patient care across many cancer types.”
Five collaborative teams composed of researchers from both institutions have been selected to conduct research over the next 4.5 years and position themselves to secure external funding beyond 2029. The projects seek to:
- Undertake the first comprehensive approach to address microplastic pollution as a potential contributor to rising cancer rates, with an emphasis on early-onset cancers
- Advance the understanding of metal chemistry and biology to pave the way for the development of new metal-based therapies to overcome resistance to radiation therapy in cancer treatment
- Identify new protein therapeutics to treat inflammatory and triple-negative breast cancers, which have high rates of resistance to standard-of-care treatment and account for almost half of breast cancer-related deaths
- Improve treatment options for tumors in the spine, sacrum and pelvis by using computer modeling to create advanced, personalized surgical implants and by developing robotics systems and imaging technology to guide the placement of the implants
- Develop a digital learning companion to provide treatment options based on protein insights for patients with rare and complex cancers lacking genome-targeted therapies, laying the foundation for artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted precision oncology and its integration into clinical research
The interdisciplinary research teams comprise 65 researchers who represent six colleges and schools at UT Austin and 20 departments at MD Anderson. Each team will receive up to $4.5 million to carry out its work. More details about each research project can be found here.
MD Anderson ranks as one of the world’s most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. UT Austin, a top public research university, is renowned for its capabilities in high performance computing, computational modeling and artificial intelligence, particularly at the intersection of medical research.
The Accelerator program builds on complementary expertise and a shared vision between the two institutions to transform cancer care, expanding upon ongoing strategic collaborations between MD Anderson and UT Austin that are providing opportunities for joint cancer research projects with unprecedented scope.
For example, the Joint Center for Computational Oncology – which includes UT Austin’s Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences and Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) and MD Anderson – brings together oncology, data and computational science, and high-performance computing strengths to support innovative research. The initiative has generated discoveries of several new clinical approaches for cancer treatment as well as novel insights for improving outcomes for patients with unmet needs.
These collaborations will be fortified and amplified through the development of The University of Texas Medical Center, announced by The University of Texas System in 2023. The medical center, on the former site of the Frank Erwin Center, will house a comprehensive cancer center built and operated by MD Anderson as well as a tertiary hospital built and operated by UT Austin. The new facilities are expected to open in 2030.
