A research initiative led by Rice University, in collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson, has received an $18 million grant from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The funding, which will be distributed over five years, will support the development of a new system aimed at enhancing the accuracy of tumor removal in breast, and head and neck cancer.   Rice University was among eight institutions chosen to receive a share of the $150 million in grants announced earlier this week by the Biden-Harris administration. This funding is part of the ongoing Cancer Moonshot initiative, which seeks to halve the cancer death rate by 2047.   The Rice and MD Anderson research team has developed a groundbreaking cancer pathology system called AccessPath, which addresses a significant challenge surgeons face: accurately identifying the margin where a tumor ends, and healthy tissue begins. Leveraging advanced technologies, including a high-resolution microscope and advanced artificial intelligence algorithms, AccessPath enables surgeons to determine in real time whether they have completely removed a tumor during surgery.  “Because of its low cost, high speed, and automated analysis, we believe AccessPath can revolutionize real-time surgical guidance, greatly expanding the range of hospitals able to provide accurate intraoperative tumor margin assessment and improving outcomes for all cancer surgery patients,” Rebecca Richards-Kortum, a lead researcher on the project and director of the Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies, said in a news release.  According to ARPA-H, nearly two million Americans are diagnosed with cancer each year. Given the complexity and high cost of cancer treatment, AccessPath offers a promising solution by “reducing the number of repeat interventions, lowering cancer care costs and improving patient outcomes,” said Dr. Ana Paula Refinetti, an associate professor in the Breast Surgical Oncology department at MD Anderson and one of the lead researchers on the project.  This cutting-edge innovation stems from a strategic partnership established this summer between Rice University and MD Anderson. Through the Cancer Bioengineering Collaborative, the two institutions are working together to develop life-saving technologies and bioengineering strategies to enhance cancer research, diagnosis and treatment.  “AccessPath is exactly the kind of life-changing research and health care innovation we are proud to produce at Rice, where we’re committed to addressing and solving the world’s most pressing medical issues,” said Ramamoorthy Ramesh, Rice’s executive vice president for research. “Partnering with MD Anderson on this vital work underscores the importance of such ongoing collaborations with our neighbors in the world’s largest medical center.”  This award is yet another example showcasing Houston’s leadership in advancing critical, life-saving technologies.  Learn more about Houston’s life sciences industry. 

A new collaboration between The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Rice University promises to drive industry growth and advance life-saving technologies through the newly established Cancer Bioengineering Collaborative. The initiative will help foster collaboration between the two institutions on fundamental and translational cancer research, develop new technologies for cancer detection and therapy, and secure external funding in support of further research and training. Rice researcher and Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) scholar Gang Bao and MD Anderson’s Dr. Jeffrey Molldrem will lead the hub.  “From fundamental discoveries in cancer science, tumor immunology and patient care to innovative engineering advances in drug delivery systems, nanostructures and synthetic biology, there is great potential for enabling cross-disciplinary collaboration to develop new technologies and approaches for detecting, monitoring and treating cancer,” Molldrem, chair of Hematopoietic Biology & Malignancy at MD Anderson, said in a release. “Our goal is to bridge the gap between bioengineering and cancer research to create transformative solutions that significantly improve patient outcomes.” The collaborative will also host monthly seminars focused on cancer bioengineering, annual retreats to highlight research and international leaders in cancer and bioengineering. Five research areas will be at the core of the hub’s work: Cell therapies: Developing more effective cell-based immunotherapies, including chimeric antigen receptor- and T cell receptor-based approaches. Nanotechnologies: Using nanoparticles for targeted cancer detection and therapy. Cancer vaccines: Incorporating advanced biomaterials, synthetic biology and nanoparticle delivery systems to develop therapeutic cancer vaccines. Artificial intelligence: Leveraging advanced computing tools for high-precision analysis of samples to identify new targets and inform therapeutic design. Molecular imaging: Deploying advanced molecular imaging techniques to enhance diagnostic and therapeutic tools. A seed grant program will also be established to fund research projects in the early stages of development. The partnership between Rice and MD Anderson is a testament to how the greater Houston region is committed to advancing the life sciences and biotech industry. The region has seen major new life science developments come online recently, including Levit Green, TMC Helix Park and The Alexandria Center for Advanced Technologies in The Woodlands.