{"id":2865,"date":"2026-06-23T17:40:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T17:40:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magazines.uthscsa.edu\/cancer-center\/?p=2865"},"modified":"2026-06-23T18:15:26","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T18:15:26","slug":"awards-and-accolades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazines.uthscsa.edu\/cancer-center\/2026\/06\/23\/awards-and-accolades\/","title":{"rendered":"Awards and Accolades"},"content":{"rendered":"

Research impact in South Texas and beyond<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

By Jane Alvarez-Hernandez<\/p>\n

\u201cOur researchers receiving highly competitive awards, such as CPRIT, to improve the lives of Texans, is a testament to the excellence of UT Health San Antonio\u2019s research enterprise and demonstrates the extraordinary science conducted here,\u201d said Jennifer Sharpe Potter, PhD, MPH, senior executive vice president for research and innovation. \u201cCPRIT is the largest state cancer research investment in the United States and the second largest cancer research and prevention program in the world. This recognition spotlights UT Health San Antonio\u2019s ability to attract top-tier talent, which drives pioneering discoveries and advances health innovation on an international scale.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdvancing research to find cures for cancers, particularly those that disproportionately affect the populations of San Antonio and South Texas, is not only our mission, it is the passion that fuels our daily work to make lives better,\u201d said Robert A. Hromas, MD, FACP, dean of the Long School of Medicine.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am excited that CPRIT continues to invest in cancer research in South Texas. This investment will allow us to continue to build on the Mays Cancer Center\u2019s legacy of excellence and to explore new approaches in cancer care that will benefit San Antonio and beyond,\u201d said Lei Zheng, MD, PhD, executive director of the Mays Cancer Center and a world-renowned expert in pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n

Manzoor Bhat, PhD, MS, vice dean for research and distinguished chair in neurosciences at the university\u2019s Long School of Medicine, added, \u201cOur investigators are making groundbreaking discoveries that extend beyond South Texas and have a global impact on advancing scientific knowledge, which will lead to developing novel solutions for human diseases that currently have no cures. These new CPRIT awards will undoubtedly advance cancer therapeutics leading to cures in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"
Jennifer Sharpe Potter, PhD, MPH, senior executive vice president for research and innovation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cOur researchers receiving highly competitive awards, such as CPRIT, to improve the lives of Texans, is a testament to the excellence of UT Health San Antonio\u2019s research enterprise and demonstrates the extraordinary science conducted here.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Kurmasheva awarded CURE foundation grant for childhood cancer research<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

By Claire Kowalick<\/p>\n

\"\"Raushan Kurmasheva, PhD<\/strong>, assistant professor at the Greehey Children\u2019s Cancer Research Institute at UT Health San Antonio and Department of Molecular Medicine at The University of Texas at San Antonio, was awarded a $330,000 Translation to Cure (T2C) award from the CURE Childhood Cancer Foundation.<\/p>\n

The foundation prioritizes research that is on the fast track to discovering new treatments and research into hard-to-treat childhood cancers. The two-year grant awarded to Kurmasheva\u2019s team will fund her research project titled \u201cAdvancing Innovative and Effective Therapies for Children with Malignant Rhabdoid Tumors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malignant rhabdoid tumors, or MRT, are a rare, fast-growing cancer that is most common in infants and toddlers. This cancer often begins in the kidneys but can also occur in soft tissues and the brain. Five-year survival rates for this type of cancer are 20% to 25%. Current treatments for this cancer are surgery, aggressive chemotherapy, stem cell transplant and radiation therapy if the child is over six months old.<\/p>\n

The project will explore a novel combination therapy using next-generation PARP1 inhibitors \u2014 a class of anti-cancer drugs \u2014 and DNA-damaging agents to target tumors.<\/p>\n

Through this project, her team will establish preclinical data that will support future clinical trials with an ultimate goal of improving outcomes for children with aggressive malignancies.<\/p>\n

\u201cMalignant rhabdoid tumors mostly affect babies and toddlers under the age of 3,\u201d Kurmasheva said. \u201cThese very young patients have very few treatment options. With support from the CURE Childhood Cancer Foundation, we will develop therapies that not only shrink tumors but also avoid toxic side effects, ensuring treatments are safe and help preserve the children\u2019s long-term health. Our goal is to bring new hope to children and families facing this heartbreaking diagnosis.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Lung Cancer Research Foundation expands scientific advisory board<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"In August 2025, The Lung Cancer Research Foundation expanded its scientific advisory board by five new members and added its first cohort of five junior members, whose role is to review, score and provide commentary on grant applications as well as serve as volunteer spokespersons for the foundation and its research program.<\/p>\n

Among the five new junior members is Lingtao Jin, PhD<\/strong>, associate professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine at UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy welcoming junior members to our scientific advisory board, [the foundation] is investing in the future leaders of lung cancer research,\u201d said Dhruba Deb, PhD, the foundation\u2019s senior director of research programs. \u201cThese rising scientists will have the opportunity to learn directly from some of the most accomplished experts in the field, gaining insights and mentorship that will shape their careers. This is a critical step in ensuring that bold, innovative research continues to thrive, ultimately accelerating progress for people living with lung cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aubrey Rhodes, the foundation\u2019s executive director, said: \u201cOur scientific advisory board is essential in identifying the best and brightest investigators whose creative ideas have the potential to uncover novel, innovative solutions for people living with lung cancer. The addition of these new members strengthens our ability to discover and support groundbreaking research that will truly make an impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Owens Medical Research Foundation awards investigators $750K to advance cancer research<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

By Jane Alvarez-Hernandez<\/p>\n

In 2025, the William and Ella Owens Medical Research Foundation awarded $250K to three UT Health San Antonio research projects on pancreatic and childhood cancers.<\/p>\n

Drug targeting in early-stage models of pancreatic cancer<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"Investigator: Simon Gayther, PhD<\/strong>, professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology, and founding director, Center for Inherited Oncogenesis. Co-PI: Patrick Sung, DPhil, professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology and Robert A. Welch Distinguished Chair in Chemistry.<\/p>\n

Synopsis: Five-year survival rates for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, PDAC, are the worst of all tumor types. Globally, the incidence of the disease is rising. In South
\nTexas, PDAC represents a major cancer burden. During
\n2011-2015, PDAC incidence was 12.3 per 100,000, higher
\nthan the national average.<\/p>\n

One main barrier to effective prevention and treatment is the difficulty in modeling PDAC. Its underlying pathology remains poorly understood at the mechanistic level.<\/p>\n

In Aim 1, researchers will establish induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models of normal pancreatic tissues with and without BRCA2 mutations, the strongest known genetic risk factor for PDAC. To these iPSC models, researchers will layer on additional mutations frequently occurring in PDAC to mimic both the early and later stages of PDAC to identify precision therapies that could improve outcomes.<\/p>\n

In Aim 2, researchers will examine functional interactions between BRCA2 and mutated versions in the iPSC models. They will study how these interactions affect the DNA damage response, specifically DNA damage repair and replication fork preservation. The goal is to define how BRCA2 physically and functionally interacts with the co-occurring mutations to impair DNA damage repair and replication functions of BRCA2.<\/p>\n

The role of the Warburg effect on cellular and systemic energy metabolism in PDAC cachexia<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

\"\"Investigator: Gang Huang, PhD,<\/strong> professor in the Departments of Cell Systems and Anatomy and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and holder of the Kathryn Mays Johnson Distinguished Chair in Oncology; associated with the Mays Cancer Center.<\/p>\n

Synopsis: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, or PDAC, is one of the deadliest types of cancer and is often diagnosed in its later stages. A common and very serious problem that the majority of PDAC patients face is called cancer-associated cachexia, or CAC \u2014 a profound weight loss and muscle-wasting condition that not only weakens patients but also makes treatments less effective. CAC-induced organ failure is the primary cause of death in patients with advanced cancer, and unfortunately, there are no FDA-approved treatments for the condition.<\/p>\n

This project investigates how the loss of a key regulator gene, called LKB1 or STK11, in PDAC cells leads to a chain reaction in the body\u2019s energy use, known as the Warburg effect. In healthy cells, LKB1 helps maintain balanced energy production by activating AMPK. When LKB1 is missing, cancer cells accelerate their sugar-burning processes while reducing fat-burning processes like fatty acid oxidation and other energy-generating pathways. This shift forces the tumor to use up large amounts of glucose, lowering blood sugar levels throughout the body. As a result, the patient\u2019s muscles and fat stores are broken down to compensate, contributing to the severe weight loss seen in cachexia. Eventually, this unintentional weight loss leads to weakness, fatigue, anorexia, pain, depression and systemic organ failure.<\/p>\n

By pinpointing the exact molecular events that drive this imbalance in both cells and animal models, researchers aim to develop new therapies that block the tumor\u2019s hijacking of the body\u2019s energy stores.<\/p>\n

Develop PSPC1 degrader for novel pediatric AML therapeutics<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"Investigator: Mingjiang Xu, PhD<\/strong>, professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine and CTRC Council Distinguished Chair in Oncology; associated with the Mays Cancer Center. Co-PI: Yaxia Yuan, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology.<\/p>\n

Synopsis: The most common pediatric cancer is acute leukemia, of which acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, accounts for about 20% of cases. The current treatment approaches for pediatric AML primarily rely on intensive chemotherapy, followed by stem cell transplantation for high-risk or relapsing patients. While there have been some recent successes with genetically targeted therapies for adults, pediatric AML has been slower to advance in children due to its distinct genetic features. Therefore, it is crucial to discover common dependencies for both pediatric and adult AMLs, despite their diverse genetic drivers. Targeted therapies based on such common dependency could offer a \u201cone-size-fits-all\u201d therapy, especially pediatric AMLs with distinct genetic features.<\/p>\n

Recent studies (published in Cell Stem Cell, 2025) have discovered paraspeckle protein component 1 (PSPC1) as a novel pan-AML target. PSPC1 is a protein implicated in the development and spread of multiple solid cancers. Preliminary screening has identified a few small molecules that can induce rapid PSPC1 degradation in AML cells. These compounds exhibit potent anti-leukemic activity, while having minimal effect on normal cells.<\/p>\n

In this project, we will optimize our PSPC1 small molecule degraders in a timely and cost-effective manner. We will then perform validation of the best degrader by evaluating its specificity, anti-leukemic potency and toxicity. Our study could lead to a breakthrough in AML treatment by developing novel PSPC1 small molecule degraders as a safe and effective therapeutic for pan-AMLs, especially pediatric AMLs. The team aims to develop PSPC1 degraders, a small molecule that could have broad applications for cancer treatment far beyond pediatric and adult AMLs.<\/p>\n

\n

Promising cancer researcher receives UT System Rising STARs, Voelcker Fund Young Investigator awards<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

By Jane Alvarez-Hernadez<\/p>\n

\"\"Maria E. Falzone, PhD<\/strong>, assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology in the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, has received a $150,000 UT Science and Technology Acquisition and Retention (STARs) award from the University of Texas System to help advance research into the molecular mechanisms underlying signaling-dependent regulation of lipid-editing enzymes and their dysregulation in cancer.<\/p>\n

Falzone, who joined UT Health San Antonio in the fall of 2024 as part of a $52 million-recruitment effort from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas announced earlier that year, is cross-appointed as a full member of the Greehey Children\u2019s Cancer Research Institute and Mays Cancer Center.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of my main research goals is to contribute to an increased understanding of cellular signaling and its dysregulation in cancer. I hope our work can make a small contribution to something that will eventually help people in our community, whether it is through therapeutic development or an increased understanding of the underlying cellular processes,\u201d Falzone said. \u201cAnother is always to keep pushing the boundaries of what is experimentally possible. If we are going to understand new biological questions, we must keep developing new and creative approaches to push our research forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Separately, Falzone was among three UT Health San Antonio researchers to receive a 2025 Voelcker Fund Young Investigator Award from the Max and Minie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund supporting biomedical research from early-career investigators. Falzone\u2019s project is focused on identifying compounds that disrupt phospholipase D signaling and to assess the effects of disrupting these pathways on breast cancer proliferation and progression.<\/p>\n

\n

Wasmuth named Howard Hughes Medical Institute Freeman Hrabowski Scholar<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

By Claire Kowalick<\/p>\n

\"\"Elizabeth Wasmuth, PhD<\/strong>, assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology at the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine and co-director of the cryo-EM facility at The University of Texas at San Antonio, has been selected by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as a Freeman Hrabowski Scholar.<\/p>\n

The five-year appointment provides up to $8.6 million over a 10-year period. The allotment includes salary, benefits, research budget and scientific equipment. Wasmuth was one of 30 scholars chosen from nearly 900 applicants. Along with achievements in biomedical research, Freeman Hrabowski Scholars are expected to make strides in becoming strong mentors and creating a supportive laboratory environment that provides a strong foundation for trainees.<\/p>\n

Under this program, Wasmuth\u2019s lab will conduct research on sex steroid hormone receptors to develop more-effective treatments for prostate cancer and other health conditions related to these receptors.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs people age and hormone levels drop, these receptors become the drivers of more than 40% of cancers. Since the 1940s, we have been drugging these receptors basically the same way, and there is inevitable resistance. Newer versions of these drugs work for a period of time, but there is resistance to these drugs as well. I\u2019m taking a multidisciplinary approach, from the lens of a cancer biologist, but also the lens of the structural biologist, and integrating these fields to get answers about how these receptors are activated, turned off or kept quiescent,\u201d said Wasmuth.<\/p>\n

Wasmuth joined the university in 2022, where her laboratory uses a multidisciplinary approach of reconstitution biochemistry, biophysics, proteomics and structural biology to investigate mechanisms of androgen-receptor function and regulation with the goal of discovering more-effective prostate cancer therapies.<\/p>\n

Wasmuth\u2019s efforts, together with Shaun K. Olsen, PhD, professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology and director of the structural biology cores, and Patrick Sung, DPhil, director of the Greehey Children\u2019s Cancer Research Institute, associate dean for research at the Long School of Medicine, professor of biochemistry and structural biology and Robert A. Welch Distinguished Chair in Chemistry, were pivotal in the acquisition and widespread use of cryo-EM microscopy technology, which has benefited many fields of research at the university.<\/p>\n

\n

Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund grants $1.25 million to support research from early-career investigators<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

By Jane Alvarez-Hernandez<\/p>\n

UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio, has been awarded $1.25 million by the Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund to support early-career investigators conducting biomedical research. The Voelcker Fund Young Investigator Awards will be allocated over three years.<\/p>\n

ATPase in structure-based drug discovery against heart attack effects<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"Investigator: Oleg Klykov, PhD<\/strong>, assistant professor, Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology<\/p>\n

Synopsis: Ischemia involves a lack of blood supply to an organ, such as during a heart attack. While restoring blood flow, known as reperfusion, is essential, it can also cause cell death and mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to ischemia-reperfusion injury. Mitochondria are critical for the production of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, the primary energy currency of cells, and disruptions in their function can hinder recovery.<\/p>\n

This project aims to explore mitochondrial dysfunction related to ATP synthase during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion using advanced biophysical and structural biology techniques. It will map mitochondrial membrane protein interactions and visualize changes in protein architecture under these conditions. The goal is to generate insights for developing innovative cardioprotective therapies.<\/p>\n

Functions of small Maf proteins in therapy-induced senescence<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"Investigator: Lu Wang, PhD<\/strong>, assistant professor, Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology; member of the UT Health San Antonio Mays Cancer Center and the Sam and Ann Barshop for Longevity and Aging Studies<\/p>\n

Synopsis: Hepatocellular carcinoma accounts for 90% of liver cancer cases and is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Early-stage patients can benefit from surgical treatments, but many are diagnosed late and miss these options. Systemic chemotherapy can induce cellular senescence as a tumor-suppressing mechanism, but it may also promote tumor growth. This research focuses on small Maf proteins and their roles in therapy-induced senescence and evasion, potentially contributing to cancer recurrence. The ultimate goal is to identify potential therapeutic targets for enhancing patient outcomes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Research impact in South Texas and beyond By Jane Alvarez-Hernandez \u201cOur researchers receiving highly competitive awards, such as CPRIT, to improve the lives of Texans, is a testament to the excellence of UT Health San Antonio\u2019s research enterprise and demonstrates the extraordinary science conducted here,\u201d said Jennifer Sharpe Potter, PhD, MPH, senior executive vice president […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":653,"featured_media":2853,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[75],"magazine":[22],"issue-year":[79],"featured-story":[],"class_list":["post-2865","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-awards-and-accolades","magazine-cancer-center","issue-year-79"],"yoast_head":"\nAwards and Accolades - Mays Cancer Center Annual Report<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/magazines.uthscsa.edu\/cancer-center\/2026\/06\/23\/awards-and-accolades\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Awards and Accolades - 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