Indian-American scientist awarded grant |
An Indian-American scientist has been awarded a grant of over USD 1.1 million for his ground-breaking research on cancer. Navin Vardarajan, along with another University of Houston researcher Sanghyuk Chung, were awarded huge grants by Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), an organisation that funds pioneering cancer research and prevention programmes in the state. Associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, Navin was given USD 1,173,420 to improve effectiveness of T-cell immunotherapy, while his fellow researcher Sanghyuk Chung, associate professor of biology and biochemistry, was awarded USD 811,617 to define molecular targets for the treatment of cervical cancer. Varadarajan will use his grant to bring consistent results to cancer patients undergoing T-cell immunotherapy by manufacturing programmed T cells to meet, recognise and destroy tumours, a statement said. They have to understand every single T cell and what each one is capable of, said Varadarajan, who is looking for a perfect cell composition in order to manufacture only those that cure tumours. Once they know what is required to get a positive response, they can control the composition of the cells so that they all can work to fight cancer, he said.
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