Translational Neuroscience News
Neurobiology Seminar Series
The monthly Neurobiology Seminar Series explores cutting-edge developments in neuroscience, neuroimmunology, neurotoxicity and cancer neuroscience. The seminars provide an exceptional opportunity for learning and professional development: stay informed about the latest research trends, expand your knowledge and engage in meaningful discussions with experts from UT MD Anderson and beyond.
Attend in person or virtually.
Funding Awards
Peter Grace Receives $3.5 Million DOD Grant
Peter Grace, Ph.D., associate professor and department chair ad interim, received a new $3.5 million, four-year grant from the Department of Defense for his project, “Pathology-Activated Drugs to Treat Oxidative Stress Underlying Peripheral Neuropathy.” The grant will support development of a first-in-class, nonopioid therapy designed to target the underlying biological causes of neuropathic pain. The approach delivers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drugs directly to injured nerves, minimizing systemic side effects.
During the funding period, the research team will optimize lead and backup compounds, evaluate their effectiveness in models of trauma- and diabetes-related neuropathy, and complete the safety and toxicity studies needed to advance this locally activated treatment into early-phase clinical trials.
Peter Grace Awarded $2.5+ Million NIH Grant
Interim Chair Peter Grace, Ph.D., was awarded a competitive second-phase grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke for his ongoing project, "Development of Pathology-activated Drugs for Treatment of Neuropathic Pain."
The funding will be applied towards direct costs from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2027.
The award supports the preclinical development of a first-in-class analgesic prodrug that releases a therapeutic metabolite at sites of pain pathology (triggered by local oxidative stress). The funding will allow Grace to complete safety and efficacy studies of the prodrug and support the Investigational New Drug application.
Department Faculty Receive Cancer Neuroscience Program Funding
Three Translational Neuroscience faculty have been awarded more than $1.2 million from UT MD Anderson's Cancer Neuroscience Program to support research the following projects aimed at enhancing patient survival and facilitating holistic treatment.
Yuan Pan, Ph.D.
Project: Elucidate perineural niche in cancer and identify targetable pathways
As co-PI alongside Moran Amit, Pan will study neuron composition and function in human tumor samples, aiming to identify novel targets for treating cancer.
Peter Grace, Ph.D. and Andrew Shepherd, Ph.D.
Project: Development of a rodent neurobehavioral core to assess treatment-related toxicities, mechanism-based drug targets, and therapeutics
Grace and Shepherd will use this funding to establish a rodent neurobehavioral core facility within the neurotoxicity theme at UT MD Anderson. This resource will enable researchers to evaluate cancer and treatment-related toxicities, identify drug targets, and validate therapeutics. By facilitating drug candidate validation and reducing investment barriers, this facility will aid preclinical development.
Faculty Project Selected as an Institutional Fundraising Priority
Xin Shelley Wang, Translational Neuroscience, and Yinghong (Mimi) Wang, Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, will work with UT MD Anderson's philanthropy team to develop fundraising materials and work with donors to raise $2,867,019 over the next five years for their project, "Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Cancer Immunotherapy-Induced Colitis."
Other Awards and Recognition
The 2025 Cleeland Prize went to Nathan Fiore, Ph.D., a Research Scientist in the Grace Lab. Fiore's winning article, "Reducing IgG accumulation via neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) blockade relieves neuropathic pain," is published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. Preclinical and clinical studies have established that autoreactive immunoglobulin G (IgG) can drive neuropathic pain. This study showed that blockade or deletion of the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) alleviates mechanical allodynia and reduces IgG accumulation after chronic constriction injury, attenuating pronociceptive IgG-FcγR signaling around the lumbar region. Strategies to block FcRn and reduce IgG recycling warrant further investigation as potential treatments for IgG-mediated neuropathic pain.
The Cleeland Prize for Symptom Research is an annual $500 travel award given by the Translational Neuroscience department to the lead author of the basic or clinical research article that best advances our understanding of the symptoms related to cancer or its treatment in new and exciting ways. The prize honors Charles S. Cleeland, Ph.D., McCullough Professor of Cancer Research and chair of the department from its inception in 1996 to 2015. Cleeland pioneered the use of patient-reported outcome measures to study the symptoms reported by patients with cancer. His research led to personalized interventions that dramatically improved patients' quality of life during and after treatment.
Chris Lopez wins FY25 Excellence Award in General Administration
Christopher Lopez, M.B.A., has made a strong impact in the division and volunteers with multiple employee networks to build community across UT MD Anderson. Lopez joined the Translational Neuroscience department in January 2024 as the Educational Program Coordinator, and he quickly began streamlining operations, mentoring students, and building programs that strengthen the department's culture.
Lopez is committed to cultivating an environment that not only fosters academic and scientific growth, but also supports the personal and professional development of department trainees. To that end, a primary professional goal is to further enhance and expand the educational programming in Translational Neuroscience, with the aim of delivering a comprehensive, well-rounded learning experience for our students, interns, and postdoctoral fellows. Engaging in institution-wide events and initiatives is deepening his understanding of UT MD Anderson’s strategic priorities and institutional culture and informing how he aligns our educational programs with the broader mission of the organization.
Department Award Winners at 2025 Internal Medicine Research Retreat
Two Translational Neuroscience scientists won basic science awards at the May 2025 Division of Internal Medicine Research Retreat.
Anand Singh, Ph.D., won the Cyrus Award in Basic Science for his work entitled "Understanding Pediatric Chemotherapy Treatment-Induced Long-Term Neurological Deficits."
Angela Casaril, Ph.D., won second place in the basic science poster category for her presentation entitled, "Targeting STAT3 Signaling to Promote Recovery from Neuropathic Pain."
Peter Grace Recognized as a "Best Leader" at UT MD Anderson
Interim Chair Peter Grace, Ph.D., has been awarded the UT MD Anderson FY25 Institutional Excellence in LEADership award. Formerly known as the Best Boss Award, the Excellence in LEADership Award recognizes leaders who encourage, empower, and give the support their employees need to succeed. These "best leaders" have a proven track record of:
- Encouraging and practicing work-life balance
- Recognizing employees for accomplishments and milestones and urging team members to do the same
- Encouraging (and requiring) employee growth and development
- Coaching and mentoring employees and encouraging staff to seek out mentors
- Practicing open communication and keeping staff informed of pertinent information
- Demonstrating great overall leadership
Peter Grace Wins Division Distinguished Paper Award
Interim Chair Peter Grace, Ph.D., was the basic science winner of the Division of Internal Medicine Distinguished Paper award for the Fall 2024 cycle (July 1 through December 31). Papers are scored on originality, readability, broad appeal, technical aspects and translational value.
The Grace Lab's paper, Site-specific drug release of monomethyl fumarate to treat oxidative stress disorders, is published in the journal Nature Biotechology. The research team included Cloris Li, Fátima Rivera Escalera, David Ruiz, Caitlyn Gaffney and Andrew Shepherd.
2024 Division of Internal Medicine Excellence Awards
The Translational Neuroscience department took the prize for the most wins. Well-deserved congratulations go to:
- Robert Dantzer: Robert F. Gagel Lifetime Achievement Award
- Carrie Howard: Excellence in Division Leadership
- Caitlyn Gaffney: Excellence in Basic Science Research
- Darrick Jackson: Excellence in People Management
The Excellence Awards recognize individual outstanding contributions to the division during the year. Employees are nominated by their departments, and the winners are selected by impartial peers.
The MDASI Symptom Library is Now Available
Individual and sets of symptom items from the MDASI Symptom Library may be added to the core MDASI or a MDASI module to create an experimental MDASI tailored to your clinical research or practice.
Library items are added to the end of the original questionnaire to maintain the integrity of its psychometric validity.
All symptom items are available in English, as well as in other languages.
Contact us to obtain permission to use any of the MDASI Symptom Library items to create a tailored questionnaire (REQUIRED). Our expert faculty can assist you with:
- Customizing a MDASI version that meets the needs of your study or practice
- Validated language translations of your selected items
- The sensitivity of particular items in specific populations
Charges apply for consultation services and are based on the scope of the request.
ITEMS MAY NOT BE USED WITHOUT CONSULTATION.
-
The role of ALDH1A1 in glioblastoma proliferation and invasion
-
Injectable, reversibly thermoresponsive captopril-laden hydrogel for the local treatment of sensory loss in diabetic neuropathy
-
18 kDa Translocator protein (TSPO) is upregulated in rat brain after peripheral nerve injury and downregulated by diroximel fumarate
-
Nf1 mutation disrupts activity-dependent oligodendroglial plasticity and motor learning in mice
-
Neuromuscular Polytrauma Pain is Resolved by Macrophage COX-2 Nanoimmunomodulation
-
The fatigue-inducing effects of cancer and its therapy are characterized by decreased physical activity in the absence of any motivational deficit
-
Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Understanding the Patient Experience
-
Voluntary wheel running prevents formation of membrane attack complexes and myelin degradation after peripheral nerve injury
-
Sustained pain and macrophage infiltration in a mouse muscle contusion model
-
The Neuroimmune Regulation and Potential Therapeutic Strategies of Optic Pathway Glioma
-
Fibroblast-derived PI16 sustains inflammatory pain via regulation of CD206+ myeloid cells
-
Neuronal Activity in Brain Tumor Pathogenesis: Adding to the Complexities of Central Nervous System Neoplasia
-
Development and validation of a patient-reported outcome measure to assess symptom burden after chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy
-
The GDF15-GFRAL axis mediates chemotherapy-induced fatigue in mice
-
HDAC6 Inhibition Reverses Cisplatin-Induced Mechanical Hypersensitivity via Tonic Delta Opioid Receptor Signaling