Accolades: Striving for excellence
Mays Cancer Center Annual Report
Mays Cancer Center ranks nationally in clinical trial enrollments
Mays Cancer Center at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has ranked fourth in the nation for clinical trial enrollments among more than 1,000 institutions that are members of the SWOG Cancer Research Network, formerly known as the Southwestern Oncology Group. SWOG is supported by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health.
PhD candidate receives prestigious National Cancer Institute award
Behnam Ebrahimi, a PhD candidate in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, received a National Cancer Institute Predoctoral-to-Postdoctoral Fellow Transition (F99/K00) award, which supports outstanding PhD and other research doctoral candidates as they complete their dissertation research training (F99 phase) and transition to mentored, cancer-focused postdoctoral research positions (K00 phase).
With this funding, Ebrahimi is investigating mechanisms of the Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor (LIFR), which is located on the surface of the cancer cells and serves as a conduit for Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) signaling that supports the growth of ovarian cancer. Using a novel LIFR inhibitor called EC359, Ebrahimi is investigating whether disruption of LIF/LIFR signaling will sensitize chemo-resistant cells and delay the development of chemotherapy resistance.
Two professors receive UT System Faculty STARs awards
Reuben S. Harris, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, has received a $1.5 million UT System Faculty Science and Technology Acquisition and Retention (STARs) award to establish his laboratory, assist fully with renovations and purchase new state-of-theart equipment instrumental to developing new pre-clinical models for cancer drug development.
“Our lab focuses on mechanisms of tumor and virus evolution. Our primary focus is a family of DNA-mutating enzymes called APOBECs (apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide). These enzymes normally protect us from virus infection but often become dysregulated in cancer and provide fuel for tumor evolution,” Harris said.
Elizabeth Wasmuth, PhD, assistant professor in the health science center’s Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, has received a STARs award of $250,000 to support her cancer research studying the molecules responsible for prostate cancer progression.
Wasmuth said the award will be used to purchase game-changing laboratory equipment to accelerate research that may not have been possible otherwise.
“The UT System Rising STARs award will allow us to purchase three pieces of equipment, including two instrumentsthat precisely measure masses and affinities of protein-protein interactions and proteins with their nucleic acid ligands to make important discoveries about the composition and behavior of a diverse array of biomolecules, as well as streamlining approaches for structural studies,” Wasmuth said. “The third piece of equipment will let us continuously monitor cancer cell growth in real time, allowing us to validate in cancer cells the functional importance of the contacts we identify using structural methods and the ability to uncover new therapeutic vulnerabilities.”
Health equity expert recognized for leadership excellence
Amelie Ramirez, DrPH, MPH, an internationally recognized health disparities researcher at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, has won two prestigious awards in as many years.
Ramirez, professor and chair of the Department of Population Health Sciences and director of the health science center’s Institute for Health Promotion Research, received the 2023 Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) Cancer Health Equity Award and was named a “Cycle Breaker” by TV personality Oprah Winfrey.
The AACI award recognizes exceptional leadership in promoting health equity, mitigating cancer disparities and advocating for diversity and inclusion.
“I am honored to receive the AACI Cancer Health Equity Award. It recognizes the hard work we do at the Mays Cancer Center to promote health equity, study new approaches to reduce health disparities and improve cancer care for the people in our community,” said Ramirez, who also serves as associate director of the Community Outreach and Engagement Program at the cancer center.
The “Cycle Breaker” recognition, featured in a video released in October 2022 by the Smithsonian Channel, highlights Ramirez’s work to break the cycles of inequities that often worsen health for Hispanics.
Ramirez has garnered her expertise across more than 30 years of developing research and communication models to improve the health of Hispanics locally and nationally. She currently directs Salud America!, a health equity program that empowers its vast network of over 500,000 community and school leaders to drive healthy policy and system changes to promote health equity and support for Hispanic families.
“Our mission is to inspire people to drive community change for health equity for Latino and all families,” Ramirez said.
