By Angie Arranz,
Special to Rice News
Rice University’s Synthesis X Center and Baylor College of Medicine’s Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center have awarded $90,000 in seed grants as part of their collaborative seed grant program.
Facilitated by both centers and Rice’s Educational and Research Initiatives for Collaborative Health (ENRICH), the seed grants represent the second offering of a two-year seed grant program designed to foster and encourage collaboration between Rice and Baylor researchers to accelerate cancer research.
This year’s call focused on new proposals in key areas: advancing early detection and minimally invasive diagnostics to reduce cancer burden; enhancing the precision and effectiveness of immunotherapy and personalized treatments; and transforming care for advanced and metastatic cancers through holistic approaches that minimize side effects and promote long-term outcomes.
The three selected projects were recognized for their significant contributions to cancer research with a focus on advancing care in neuro-oncology, immunotherapy and innovative treatment strategies. They are:
Design of synthetic transcription factor binding site competitors to reduce T-cell exhaustion in cancer immunotherapies
Primary investigators:
- Cameron Glasscock, assistant professor of biosciences, Wiess School of Natural Sciences, Rice
- Glenna Foight, assistant professor, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine
This project seeks to enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy by addressing a major challenge: T-cell exhaustion. In many cancers, especially solid tumors and those in the central nervous system (CNS), T cells lose their ability to function over time. The proposal aims to develop custom-designed DNA-binding proteins that can block the activity of NFAT, a transcription factor known to drive T-cell dysfunction.
Using AI-driven protein design and high-throughput screening, the researchers could identify proteins that block NFAT activity and enhance T-cell persistence. This approach could improve the durability and effectiveness of T cell-based immunotherapies for solid and CNS tumors.
Deciphering the role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modifications in glioblastoma: Insights from spatial profiling and functional mechanisms
Primary investigators:
- Yuan Ma, assistant professor of chemistry, Wiess School of Natural Sciences, Rice
- Benjamin Deneen, professor and Dr. Russell J. and Marian K. Blattner Chair in the Department of Neurosurgery and the Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine
This project aims to investigate the role of RNA modifications — specifically N6-methyladenosine (m6A) — in glioblastoma (GBM), an aggressive and treatment-resistant brain cancer. By developing a single-cell technique to map m6A modifications within tumors, the study seeks to uncover how these changes influence tumor growth and invasion. This work could reveal new biomarkers and therapeutic targets, ultimately advancing precision medicine for GBM patients.
Modified mRNA therapeutics in cancer immunotherapy
Primary investigators:
- Quanbing Mou, assistant professor of chemistry, Wiess School of Natural Sciences, Rice
- Xiang Zhang, director of the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, William T. Butler, M.D., Endowed Chair for Distinguished Faculty and professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine
This project aims to establish a clinically translatable mRNA-based immunotherapy platform for solid tumors with a focus on HER2-positive and HER2-low breast cancers. By combining chemically modified mRNA for enhanced performance with a novel, nonviral delivery system, the team will engineer macrophages (CAR-M) capable of targeting HER2-expressing tumors. This work addresses key limitations of current CAR-based therapies and lays the groundwork for expanding mRNA immunotherapies to a broader range of cancers.
This seed grant program is part of Rice’s commitment to lead innovations in health, which is a key element of its 10-year strategic plan Momentous and reflects the university’s focus on forging institutional partnerships to create a significant impact.