Wed Sep 18 04:51:54 UTC 2024: ## Oklahoma Cancer Research Gets $5.3 Million Boost
**Oklahoma City, OK** – The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center has been awarded a $5.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance cancer research in the state. This is the third and final phase of a Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) grant, initially awarded in 2012.
The grant will support the development of new researchers and build upon the already strong infrastructure of the Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma’s National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center.
Dr. Danny Dhanasekaran, a professor of cell biology at the OU College of Medicine and deputy director for basic research at Stephenson Cancer Center, leads the COBRE grant. He emphasizes the grant’s role in nurturing early-career researchers: “Established researchers mentor early-career researchers on important steps and pitfalls to avoid as they launch their careers. They also become immersed in the collaborative world of team science.”
The grant also funds the acquisition of advanced equipment, such as sophisticated imaging technology for monitoring cell growth and structure. This technology will allow researchers to explore drug resistance, a major obstacle in cancer treatment.
“Drug resistance is a major issue in cancer treatment,” said Dhanasekaran. “Our researchers are looking at several types of cancers to understand more about how they become resistant to drugs.”
The COBRE grant’s success is already evident. Seven of the 10 participating early-career researchers have earned a combined $22 million in grants, allowing them to establish their own labs. Their research has also resulted in 250 journal publications focusing on drug resistance.
The grant is seen as a significant step forward in the fight against cancer in Oklahoma, where the disease is the second-leading cause of death.
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