Featured Labs & Ongoing Research Projects

Ongoing Research Projects

James A. Bankson, Ph.D.

The Houston Center for Acquired Resistance Research (H-CARR) Project 3: Quantification of cisplatin sensitivity and resistance using metabolic imaging and circulating tumor cell (CTC) biomarkers
The Houston Center for Acquired Resistance Research (H-CARR) will act as the organizing entity for a multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary effort to detect acquired cisplatin resistance early in development and generate molecular and metabolic strategies for overcoming it. Investigators from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center will investigate interactions between cancer cells, infiltrating immunocytes, and neurons to both understand the critical drivers of cisplatin resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and develop precision oncology approaches to its clinical utilization in this deadly cancer and other similar solid tumors
NIH/NCI, 1U54CA274321-01, 09/01/2022 – 08/31/2027

Exploring the Function of MHC-II/Lag3 Axis in Brain Metastasis to Develop Novel Therapeutic Strategies
Systematically reveal dynamic interactions and crosstalk between BM cells and the innate immune compartments unique to the brain, which will empower us to develop novel early intervention and therapeutic strategies for treating BMs in cancer patients using clinically-applicable epigenetic drugs.
NIH/NCI, 1R01CA266099-01A1, 07/05/2022 – 06/30/2027

Image Guided Cancer Therapy Training Program
The goal of this post-doctoral training program is to provide the multi-disciplinary education needed for tomorrow's pioneering researchers to advance the field of image-guided cancer therapy.
NIH/NCI T32, 5T32CA261856-02, 04/01/2022 – 03/31/2027

Interdisciplinary Translational Pre/Postdoctoral Program in Cancer Nanotechnology
The overall goal of this project is to develop a novel training program to prepare Ph.D. scientists who will transfer the many promises of cancer nanotechnology into the clinical reality of the future.
NIH/NCI T32, 5T32CA196561-07, 04/01/2022 – 03/31/2027

Leveraging Hyperpolarized MRI for Precision Oncology Approaches in Head and Neck Cancer
The proposed translational research will use real-time metabolic imaging (hyperpolarized MRI) to assess tumor response to genotoxic stress induced by cisplatin in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HSNCC). The work is relevant to public health because this approach will provide a basis for adaptive changes to maximize treatment effectiveness and personalize the management of not only HNSCC but also other solid tumors. As genotoxic agents remain the mainstay treatment for most solid tumors, this will be a true first step towards a precision oncology approach that we have been seeking for nearly half a century.
NIH/NCI, 1R01CA280980-01A1, 09/01/2022 – 08/31/2027

Multimodal Imaging and Therapy of Ovarian Cancer
To create a new paradigm for approaching ovarian cancer that enables presurgical planning, surgical resection, and tumor photodestruction after a single nanoparticle injection.
NIH/NCI, 5R01CA255753-03, 08/20/2021 – 07/31/2026

HDO Imaging is a Quantitative Marker of Cerebral Glucose Oxidation
To develop new methods for the acquisition and reconstruction of DMRI data in order to improve the sensitivity, specificity, and spatiotemporal resolution for the assessment of cerebral glucose metabolism using deuterium-enriched glucose.
NIH/NIBIB, 1R01EB032376-01A1, 09/01/2022 – 05/31/2026

Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG): Small Animal Imaging Facility
The major goal of the facility is to provide Cancer Center Members with powerful imaging technologies and the expertise that is necessary to integrate imaging into preclinical cancer research.
NIH/NCI, 5P30CA016672-46, 07/01/2019 – 06/30/2024

Combating Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis by Blocking the Two-Pronged Driver Kinase Function of CDK5
To determine the brain metastasis-promoting functions of CDK5 in spontaneous brain metastasis models and in immune-competent mouse models, and examine its clinical relevance in patient specimens.
NIH/NCI, 5R01CA231149-05, 05/01/2019 – 04/30/2024

High sensitivity 19F MRI for clinically translatable imaging of adoptive NK cell brain tumor therapy
The ultimate goal of this project is to develop highly sensitive and specific PFC labeling solutions for NK cells that can undergo a straightforward translation into clinical trials
CPRIT, RP200223, 03/01/2020 – 02/29/2024

Multi-Site Development & Evaluation of a Quantitative 3D Hyperpolarized C-13 MRI Clinical Prostate Cancer Exam
The major goal of this project is to develop new and vastly improved methods for diagnostic assessment of prostate cancer by MRI of tumor metabolism using hyperpolarized pyruvate and to assess the sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of this exciting new metabolic imaging exam at UCSF and MD Anderson Cancer Center.
NIH/NCI, 1R01CA211150-01A1 , 03/01/2017 – 02/28/2024

David T. A. Fuentes, Ph.D.

Early Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Develop imaging and blood biomarkers for the detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
NIH/NCI, 5R01CA195524-07, 04/21/2022 – 02/28/2027

Collaborative Research: Multidimensional Couplings for Flow and Transport in Porous Media
Formulation, analysis, and application of discontinuous Galerkin methods for the solution of coupled one-dimensional and three-dimensional flow and transport processes in porous media.
NSF, 2111459, 09/01/2021 – 08/31/2024

Characterization of Endovascular Ablative Therapies with Computational Modeling
Investigate an imaging-informed mathematical framework for guiding therapy delivery of thermoembolization.
NIH/NCI, 5R21CA260016-02, 5/26/2022-4/30/2024

An Information-theoretic Approach to HP Signal Acquisition in the Brain
Develop an information-theoretic approach toward optimizing the data acquisition strategy for MR imaging of hyperpolarized (HP) pyruvate.
NIH/NCI, 5R21CA249373-02, 5/1/2021-4/30/2023

John D. Hazle, Ph.D.

Interdisciplinary Translational Pre/Postdoctoral Program in Cancer Nanotechnology
The overall goal of this project is to develop a novel training program to prepare Ph.D. scientists who will transfer the many promises of cancer nanotechnology into the clinical reality of the future.
NIH/NCI T32, 5T32CA196561-07, 04/01/2022 – 03/31/2027

Radioimmunogenomic Habitat Phenotypes to Predict Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Immunotherapies in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
To bridge this gap by leveraging our knowledge and expertise in data science, thoracic oncology, and preclinical cancer immunobiology.
NIH/NCI, 5R01CA262425-02, 09/16/2021 – 08/31/2026

Cancer Center Support Grant - Small Animal Imaging Facility
The major goal of the facility is to provide Cancer Center Members with powerful imaging technologies and the expertise that is necessary to integrate imaging into preclinical cancer research.
NIH/NCI, 5P30CA016672-46, 07/01/2019 – 6/30/2024

Multi-Site Development & Evaluation of a Quantitative 3D Hyperpolarized C-13 MRI Clinical Prostate Cancer Exam
The major goal of this project is to develop new and vastly improved methods for diagnostic assessment of prostate cancer by MRI of tumor metabolism using hyperpolarized pyruvate and to assess the sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of this exciting new metabolic imaging exam at UCSF and MD Anderson Cancer Center.
NIH/NCI, 1R01CA211150-01A1 , 03/01/2017 – 02/28/2024

Photon Counting Detector MicroCT
This Shared Instrumentation Grant for a photon-counting detector microCT will bring new quantitative imaging capabilities for the development of image-guided techniques and novel imaging probes at MD Anderson and the Texas Medical Center.
NIH/OD, 1S10OD028621-01A1, 04/15/2021 – 10/14/2023

Fellow and Resident Radiation Oncology Intensive Training in Imaging and Informatics to Empower Research Careers (FRONTI2ER)
To inculcate trainees with requisite research skills for integration of biomedical imaging and clinical imaging informatics in radiation oncology applications and to enrich the diversity of the biomedical and clinical research workforce domestically by recruiting highly qualified applicants from under-represented minorities or with disabilities or other social, cultural, economic, or educational disadvantages.
NIH/NIBIB, 5R25EB025787-05, 08/01/2018 – 07/31/2023

S. Cheenu Kappadath, Ph.D.

An Open-Label, First-In-Human, Multi-Center Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Anti-Tumor Activity of A Thorium-227 Labeled Antibody-Chelator Conjugate, BAY 2287411 Injection, In Patients with Solid Tumors Known To Express Mesothelin
To evaluate the safety and tolerability of a Thorium-227 labeled antibody-chelator conjugate (BAY 2287411) in patients with solid tumors known to express mesothelin.
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, 2019-0363, 11/11/2019 – 11/10/2026

Interdisciplinary Translational Pre/Postdoctoral Program in Cancer Nanotechnology
The overall goal of this project is to develop a novel training program to prepare Ph.D. scientists who will transfer the many promises of cancer nanotechnology into the clinical reality of the future.
NIH/NCI, 5T32CA196561-07, 04/01/2022 – 03/31/2027

Rick Layman, Ph.D.

Interdisciplinary Translational Pre/Postdoctoral Program in Cancer Nanotechnology
The overall goal of this project is to develop a novel training program to prepare Ph.D. scientists who will transfer the many promises of cancer nanotechnology into the clinical reality of the future.
NIH/NCI, 5T32CA196561-07, 04/01/2022 – 03/31/2027

Automated Image Quality Assessment for AI Applications in Cancer Treatment
To create an automated solution to evaluate image noise, spatial resolution, and artifacts using individual patient images, and to test this system using our advanced auto-contouring solutions applied to images from multiple sources (and varying image quality).
CPRIT, RP220366, 03/01/2022 – 02/28/2025

Comprehensive Value-Based CT Imaging to Improve Patient Management in Lung Cancer
The major goals are to establish validated and standardized CT protocols for thoracic oncology patients with monitoring of clinical protocol applications for compliance with Siemens Teamplay; to establish functional/quantitative DECT imaging as standardized pretreatment evaluation of lung CA patients; and to implement high-resolution quantitative CT imaging in thoracic oncology patients to identify potential imaging-based biomarkers related to sarcopenia, steatosis, visceral fat, and BMD to enhance patient management and enable therapy modulation.
Siemens, C00242266, 09/07/2022 – 09/03/2024

Photon Counting Detector MicroCT
This Shared Instrumentation Grant for a photon-counting detector microCT will bring new quantitative imaging capabilities for the development of image-guided techniques and novel imaging probes at MD Anderson and the Texas Medical Center.
NIH/OD, 1S10OD028621-01A1, 04/15/2021 – 10/14/2023

Nanoparticle-infused Radiopaque Absorbable Medical Device
To develop a radiopaque, completely resorbable IVC filter that prevents VTE over the recommended prophylactic period and that can be inexpensively deployed and monitored by conventional imaging methods.
NIH/NHLBI, 5R01HL141831-05, 09/01/2018 – 06/30/2023

Osama Mawlawi, Ph.D.

Interdisciplinary Translational Pre/Postdoctoral Program in Cancer Nanotechnology
The overall goal of this project is to develop a novel training program to prepare Ph.D. scientists who will transfer the many promises of cancer nanotechnology into the clinical reality of the future.
NIH/NCI, 04/01/2022 – 03/31/2027

A Novel PARP Inhibitor PET Tracer for Breast Cancer
To validate this novel imaging technology, as an early, non-invasive method to measure target engagement of PARPi in patients with metastatic germline BRCAMUT breast cancer, and thus predict responsiveness to PARPi.
NIH/NCI, 03/17/2021 – 02/28/2024

Konstantin Sokolov, Ph.D.

In Situ Cancer Cell Specific Biomineralization to Overcome Nanoparticle Delivery Barriers and Sensitize Pancreatic Cancer to Radiotherapy
In this project, we will carry out comprehensive mechanistic studies to evaluate and optimize in situ gold biomineralization for efficient radiosensitization of pancreatic cancer to radiation therapy.
NIH/NCI T32, 1R01CA274415-01, 08/02/2022 – 07/31/2027

Interdisciplinary Translational Pre/Postdoctoral Program in Cancer Nanotechnology
The overall goal of this project is to develop a novel training program to prepare Ph.D. scientists who will transfer the many promises of cancer nanotechnology into the clinical reality of the future.
NIH/NCI T32, 5T32CA196561-07, 04/01/2022 – 03/31/2027

Molecular Photoacoustic Imaging for Diagnostics and Therapy Monitoring
To deliver a new capability for quantitative molecular imaging that will combine high sensitivity with a greatly improved spatial resolution for preclinical cancer research.
NIH/NIBIB, 5R01EB028762-04, 08/01/2020 – 04/30/2025

Development of Fluorinated Dyes for Deeper Tissue Photoacoustic Imaging with Phase-Changing Nanodroplets
We propose to address the weaknesses of the prior research by developing fluorinated dyes with absorbance in the first and second near-infrared tissue windows (NIR-I and NIR-II). Our hypothesis is that the fluorinated dyes will be soluble inside the PFC core, thus resulting in highly reproducible, stable LAND formulations with greatly improved laser activation efficacy.
NIH/NIBIB, 5R21EB030805-02, 07/01/2021 – 04/30/2024

Radiosensitization of Thyroid Cancer by Cancer Cell-Specific Reduction of Gold Ions
We propose to deliver gold ions to cancer cells as a precursor for in situ cancer-specific synthesis of gold nanoclusters that can radiosensitize therapy-resistant cancer cells to radiation leading to greatly improved treatment outcomes.
NIH/NCI, 5R21CA258839-02, 02/09/2022 – 01/31/2024