$1 million NIH grant to support UTEP's transformative pancreatic cancer research
Summary
Weiqin Lu, Ph.D., Professor in the UTEP School of Pharmacy and the projects principal investigatorAccording to NCI statistics, only about 11% of patients survive more than five years after being diagnosed.The NCI grant will support a program Lu established to study the role of obesity and inflammation in the development of oncogenic KRAS (Kirsten rat sarcoma virus)-mediated pancreatic cancer. "The work Dr. Lu and her colleagues are doing has the potential to be transformative in our search for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that underlie pancreatic cancer," said Jos\xe9 Rivera, Ph.D., dean of the UTEP School of Pharmacy. "Lus research suggests that targeted inhibition of NADPH oxidase, a compound found in the cells of many animals and insects, could be a promising preventive and therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer. "This research may assist with developing clinical opportunities and strategies that will significantly advance our collective knowledge in this area. "Funds from the NCI grant will also support graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at UTEP through tuition assistance and paid research opportunities.