University of Houston to enhance cancer research facilities

University of HoustonNov 9 2011

Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas award to fund advanced imaging technology

Thanks to almost $1 million in new funding from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), the University of Houston (UH) will soon be enhancing its cancer research facilities.

The $990,286 grant will be applied toward the purchase and installation of an advanced imaging system for in-depth monitoring of tumor growth and cancer progression. With access to the latest in imaging technology, researchers from the Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling (CNRCS) will study the interactions of tumors in local tissue environments and develop a better understanding of the progression of cancer cells.

"This state-of-the-art equipment provides us with a broader range of research applications that will hopefully result in more effective treatments for cancer patients," said CNRCS director Dr. Jan--ke Gustafsson, who is the principal investigator on this grant. "We look forward to further expanding the impact of our research with the continued support of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas."

Designated for core facility support, the funds will be invested in a new IVIS Spectrum imaging system. This optical imaging technology will make it possible for researchers to study the molecular processes of disease progression and gene expression occurring in live animals through noninvasive methods. Increasing accuracy and offering more sensitive detection, the technology allows scientists to look deeper and further, improving the quality of data, as well as reducing the required number of animals for experiments.

"With this new imaging system, we will be able to more accurately evaluate our research into emerging cancer therapeutics and diagnostics," Gustafsson said. "This includes next-generation small molecule drugs, chemotherapeutics and both viral and nonviral gene delivery systems."

Gustafsson's collaborators on securing this grant were assistant professor Daniel Frigo and research assistant professor Maria Bondesson, both with CNRCS, and assistant professor Fatima Merchant from the College of Technology. The equipment also will be available to UH researchers from other disciplines, such as computer science, engineering technology and pharmacy, resulting in collaborations expected to advance the field of preclinical tumor model analysis and strengthen the emerging UH cancer research initiative.