UT San Antonio Secures More Than $2.7 Million for Cancer Research, Expanding Hope for Families Across South Texas
For families across San Antonio and South Texas, breakthroughs in cancer research often feel like something happening in distant laboratories or major medical centers hundreds of miles away. A new round of state funding awarded to The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) and UT Health San Antonio is a reminder that some of the most promising work in cancer prevention, treatment and research is happening right here in the region.
The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) has awarded more than $2.7 million in new grants to the newly integrated UT San Antonio and UT Health San Antonio, supporting projects focused on childhood cancer, artificial intelligence in cancer care, obesity-related cancers and advanced research technologies. The awards continue a long-standing partnership between the state agency and the institution, which has received nearly $186 million in CPRIT funding since 2010.
The investment represents more than research dollars. For South Texas residents, it strengthens the region's role as a growing hub for medical innovation while helping ensure that patients have access to leading-edge discoveries closer to home.
Why This Matters for South Texas
Cancer remains one of the most significant health challenges facing Texas families. Access to advanced treatment, early detection and innovative therapies can be especially important in rural and underserved communities, where healthcare resources are often more limited.
The latest CPRIT funding will support projects designed to improve cancer care, develop future researchers and strengthen the state's life sciences infrastructure. The work is being led by scientists and physicians at UT San Antonio, UT Health San Antonio, the Mays Cancer Center and the Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute.
“These latest awards and vote of confidence from our state demonstrate the power of our integrated, multidisciplinary research and health enterprise that elevates the national visibility of the extraordinary work happening across our institution,” said Dr. Lei Zheng, executive director of the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio and vice president for oncology at UT San Antonio.
The Mays Cancer Center holds a distinction that is particularly significant for local patients. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center serving Central and South Texas, giving residents access to advanced clinical trials and cancer treatment options without having to leave the region.
Nearly $2 Million Awarded for Advanced Cancer Research Technology
The largest award in this funding cycle—$1,999,969—was awarded to Dr. Michael T. Berton, professor and deputy chair in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics at the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine.
The funding will enhance the institution's Flow Cytometry Shared Resource, a critical research facility that supports cancer investigators throughout San Antonio and South Texas.
The upgraded technology will allow researchers to examine individual cells with an unprecedented level of detail, helping scientists better understand how cancers develop and respond to treatment.
“This renewed CPRIT grant will allow us to better support imaging flow cytometry, providing users with the unprecedented means to analyze or sort single cells not only based on fluorescence, but also based on physical and spatial characteristics facilitated by real-time imaging,” Berton said.
The new capabilities are expected to accelerate discoveries related to cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment while supporting researchers across multiple disciplines.
New Research Targets Aggressive Childhood Cancer
Another project receiving CPRIT support focuses on Ewing sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that primarily affects children and teenagers.
Dr. David Libich, associate professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology and investigator with the Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, received a $250,000 award to investigate new ways to target the disease.
Researchers will study a cancer-driving protein known as EWS::FLI1, which has historically been difficult to target because of its unstable structure.
“We will study how EWS::FLI1 interacts with other proteins inside the cell, using powerful imaging methods that can look at proteins at the level of individual atoms, then use advanced computer models, including artificial intelligence, to design small, engineered proteins that latch onto EWS::FLI1 in a highly specific way,” Libich said.
If successful, the research could lay the groundwork for safer and more precise treatments for children diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, potentially improving both survival rates and long-term quality of life.
The project also highlights the work of the Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, one of only two institutes in the United States dedicated exclusively to pediatric cancer research.
Artificial Intelligence Could Help Expand Access to Cancer Care
Artificial intelligence continues to reshape healthcare, and one UT San Antonio research project aims to use the technology to improve cancer treatment in communities with limited medical resources.
Dr. Arkajyoti Roy, associate professor in the Department of Operations and Analytics in the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, received a $250,000 CPRIT award to develop AI-assisted radiation therapy tools.
Radiation therapy requires physicians to carefully map tumors and surrounding organs before treatment begins, a process that can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.
“This project aims to make artificial intelligence (AI)-guided radiation therapy safer and more reliable, especially for patients treated in clinics with limited resources,” Roy said.
The research seeks to improve the quality and consistency of treatment while helping reduce disparities in cancer care, particularly in underserved and rural areas throughout Texas.
New Approach Targets Obesity-Related Endometrial Cancer
A fourth project focuses on endometrial cancer, one of the fastest-growing cancers among women under age 50.
Dr. Maria Gonzalez Porras, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering within the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design, received $246,196 to advance a nanoparticle-based treatment designed to target cancer cells more precisely.
Researchers believe obesity-related biological processes can accelerate tumor growth. The new treatment uses nanoparticles carrying genetic instructions that deactivate harmful proteins linked to both obesity and cancer progression.
“We have developed a new treatment for endometrial cancer using nanoparticles – tiny carriers of genetic instructions that deactivate harmful proteins in fat and cancer cells,” Gonzalez Porras said.
If successful, the approach could provide a less invasive treatment option that preserves fertility, shortens recovery times and reduces long-term health risks for patients.
Building a Future of Discovery and Care
For South Texas residents, these projects represent more than scientific research. They reflect continued investment in a region increasingly recognized for its contributions to medical innovation, healthcare education and patient care.
The funding arrives as UT San Antonio and UT Health San Antonio continue to expand their integrated research and healthcare mission, creating new opportunities to attract top scientists, develop future medical leaders and bring advanced treatments closer to the communities that need them most.
As cancer researchers work to unlock new discoveries in laboratories across San Antonio, the impact could eventually be felt far beyond campus walls—in hospitals, clinics and homes throughout South Texas and beyond.
What Happens Next
Researchers will begin advancing the newly funded projects over the coming months, with each initiative focused on translating scientific discoveries into real-world benefits for patients. While breakthroughs in cancer research often take years to develop, these investments help build the foundation for future treatments, earlier interventions and improved outcomes for families facing cancer.
For a region that continues to grow both medically and economically, the latest CPRIT awards reinforce San Antonio's expanding role as a center for cancer research, innovation and hope.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for updates on medical research, healthcare advancements and community developments shaping San Antonio.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.