The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced the launch of its Institute for Cell Therapy Discovery & Innovation, which will build upon longstanding MD Anderson clinical and research expertise to lead the world in developing and advancing impactful cell therapies for patients in need.

The institute will bring together top scientists and clinicians to lead exceptional discovery, translational and clinical research that will deliver new insights in immunology and cell engineering, fueling the creation of transformational new treatments that can be rapidly adapted to address emerging needs in cancer, autoimmune diseases, infections and other conditions. These efforts already have been catalyzed by philanthropic and institutional support of more than $80 million.

The institute will be led by Katy Rezvani, M.D., Ph.D., vice president & head of the Institute for Cell Therapy Discovery & Innovation. Rezvani also holds the inaugural Melvyn N. Klein Family Endowed Directorship for the Institute for Cell Therapy Discovery & Innovation.

“Cell therapies have delivered profound results for patients with hematologic cancers, but there remain too many patients that do not benefit. It is critical to our mission to bring these promising therapies forward as options for patients with cancer and other conditions,” Rezvani said. “Through our discoveries, we aim to provide many more patients with effective cell therapies that are available as off-the-shelf treatment options, limiting the need for lengthy hospital stays and associated costs.”

Cell therapies, often described as ‘living therapies,’ are sophisticated immunotherapy treatments that use immune cells from a patient or healthy donor as building blocks. Through specialized engineering and manufacturing techniques, researchers can enhance the ability of these cells to detect and eliminate cancer cells, infected cells or otherwise abnormal cells. 

The institute will integrate across MD Anderson’s unique research ecosystem to accelerate the discovery and development of new cell therapies from preclinical studies through clinical trials. MD Anderson’s extensive scientific and clinical expertise, highlighted by the world’s largest cancer clinical trials program and premier research institutes – the James P. Allison Institute and Institute for Data Science in Oncology – will enable institute researchers to uncover new cell therapy targets and approaches. Collaborations with external researchers as well as biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies will further speed the pace of development.

“MD Anderson clinicians and researchers have been instrumental in shaping the cell therapy field, and we are proud to take this important step into the future,” said Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president of MD Anderson. “The Institute for Cell Therapy Discovery & Innovation is a key piece of our institutional strategy, as we focus on cancer breakthroughs to improve patient outcomes. Our world-class facilities, exceptional talent and unique research environment will enable our teams to deliver transformational new medicines and to further our efforts to maximize our impact on humanity to finally end cancer.”

Building on a Robust Research Platform and Previous Discoveries

As leaders in cell therapy, MD Anderson researchers have an extensive history of cell therapy research and development in the preclinical and clinical setting. To date, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved six CAR T cell therapy products targeting CD19 and BCMA for B-cell lymphomas, leukemias and multiple myeloma, with several approvals based on clinical trials led by MD Anderson researchers.

MD Anderson also was the first to advance CAR natural killer (NK) cells into clinical studies for patients with lymphoid malignancies, based on cord blood-derived CD19 CAR NK cell therapies developed by Rezvani and her team.

Additional MD Anderson research has shown progress for new cell therapies in solid tumors, with numerous preclinical studies and clinical trials in progress. Some key published and presented research findings include: 

Adoptive T cell receptor (TCR) therapy targeting MAGE-A4 achieved clinically significant results for patients with multiple solid tumor types in a Phase I trial

Novel CD70-targeting CAR T cell therapy delivered promising early results in patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma 

Engineered NK cells expressing interleukein-21 or missing the TFG-β receptor demonstrated strong antitumor activity against glioblastoma cells

CAR NK cells expressing a second CAR molecule improved tumor specificity and enhanced NK cell activity

Adding CD28 costimulation to CD70-targeting CAR NK cells enhanced antitumor activity and long-term cytotoxicity

“For years, our talented scientists and clinicians have been at the forefront of discovery, understanding and development of novel cell therapies,” said Giulio Draetta, M.D., Ph.D., chief scientific officer at MD Anderson. “By integrating with experts across the research and clinical enterprise, the Institute for Cell Therapy Discovery & Innovation will be able to create important new treatments, tailored to unmet patient needs, in ways only possible here.”

Researchers at MD Anderson, home to the world’s largest cord blood bank, will continue to explore cord blood-derived NK cell therapies and investigate alternative sources, such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), for NK cells, T cells, B cells and macrophages, all of which may be used for cell therapies. Researchers will investigate and identify additional targetable tumor antigens and immune signaling molecules, which play a key role in immune cells’ ability to eliminate tumor cells and reduce damage to healthy cells.

While cancer is a core focus of the institute, MD Anderson researchers’ extensive knowledge of cell biology and engineering also provides possibilities to develop cell therapies in autoimmune diseases and infections. Abnormal B cells can cause multiple autoimmune diseases, including Graves’ disease, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, and cell therapies could improve upon current steroid and immunosuppressive treatments.

Further, Rezvani’s team has successfully developed cell therapies that show promise in treating rare and often fatal brain infections as well as viral infections that can arise after stem cell transplants. 

Bringing Together Top Minds and the Next Generation of Scientists

In addition to Rezvani’s leadership, clinical and research leaders at MD Anderson will come together to help manage and oversee the institute’s research efforts. An Internal Advisory Council will provide guidance and scientific input on the research projects, offering recommendations on new research proposals submitted to the institute. A Pipeline Review Committee will ensure research and development projects align with the institute’s overall strategic objectives.

The institute also established an Executive Advisory Board, comprised of top minds from around the world, to provide guidance and input on the work of the institute.

Recruitment and retention of top scientists in bioinformatics, cell therapy research and cell engineering are priorities to bolster research initiatives. In addition, supporting the research of young scientists with promising ideas is a key element of the institute’s work to advance cell therapies. The institute will establish a fellowship program to create an opportunity to mentor, recruit and educate the next generation of researchers.

More Than $80 Million in Support Funds Advancement, Accessibility of Cell Therapy

Philanthropic support from around the world will further fuel discovery, research and talent within the institute. To date, more than $80 million – over half of the institute’s fundraising goal – has been raised to aid in researchers’ investigation, development and manufacturing of next-generation cell therapies for cancer patients. Much of this support is directed to underwriting clinical trials that will accelerate treatments to the bedside.

“The unparalleled generosity of our dedicated donors has provided an incredible foundation for the institute, supporting the advancement and accessibility of cell therapies from the very beginning,” said Rezvani. “On behalf of our team and our patients, thank you for your foresight and confidence in science. Together, we will end cancer.”

The institute has received lead commitments from Meg and Kirk Gentle, Lindonlight Collective, The Marcus Foundation, Inc., The Margery L. Block Foundation, Melville Foundation and Tanoto Foundation and additional significant support from The James B. and Lois R. Archer Charitable Foundation, Ann and Clarence Cazalot, The Cockrell Foundation, The Cyvia & Melvyn Wolff Family Foundation; Vijay and Marie Goradia, Melvyn N. Klein, Marek Family Foundation, Gayle Stoffel, The McCombs Foundation, The Walters Family, and MD Anderson’s Accelerator Fund. These gifts and more provide a strong foundation for the institute today as fundraising continues toward a total goal of $150 million.

“We are grateful to the many donors who have supported our work in cell therapies for many years, particularly our generous lead and significant benefactors and our MD Anderson CancerCenter Board of Visitors members,” said Pisters. “Through their continued commitment to our mission, our hope is that the discoveries of today will sooner help more cancer patients, across more diseases and disease sites, putting us further on the path to Making Cancer History®.”

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The institute builds upon institutional expertise to develop and advance impactful cell therapies for cancer, autoimmune conditions and infections.

MD Anderson Launches Institute for Cell Therapy Discovery & Innovation to Deliver Transformational New Therapies

The University of Texas System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife announced plans to launch a monumental healthcare initiative to accelerate and expand UT Austin’s burgeoning medical district into a world-class academic medical center for education, research and patient care. The University of Texas at Austin Medical Center will start with two new hospital towers -- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and a UT Austin hospital. MD Anderson, the nation’s #1 cancer hospital, will expand its Houston footprint to Austin by building and operating a new, comprehensive cancer center, while UT Austin will build and operate its new specialty hospital.

“The establishment of the University of Texas at Austin Medical Center, with UT MD Anderson Cancer Center adjacent to a new University hospital and access to all of UT Austin’s education and research assets, will undoubtedly result in transformative cancer care, provide students at the flagship campus with unmatched experiences, and benefit patients throughout the state and nation for all time,” said Eltife.

Eltife noted that the total investment for these cornerstone projects of the new medical center is still in the discussion by the regents and is estimated at $2.5 billion. Once approved, the hospitals will be built on the current site of UT Austin’s Erwin Center. The former Longhorns basketball arena will be demolished by fall 2024, and it is anticipated that groundbreaking for the hospitals should begin in 2026.

The new UT MD Anderson hospital in Austin will be fully staffed by MD Anderson physicians, making it easier for patients in Central Texas to access the world’s leading multidisciplinary, subspecialty-focused cancer care. UT Austin’s new university hospital will be constructed adjacent to the MD Anderson site. UT Austin and UT MD Anderson already share strong collaborative relationships that include breakthrough research in cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment. That partnership will be able to grow significantly in the new medical center, using the strengths of both institutions, including the Dell Medical School, to provide a higher level of interaction and space for them to conduct research, educate medical students and treat patients shoulder to shoulder in Austin. UT Austin and UT MD Anderson collectively conducted $1.8 billion in research last year.

Governor Greg Abbott, who joined Eltife in making the announcement, along with UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken, UT Austin President Jay Hartzell, UT MD Anderson President Peter Pisters and UT Austin Dell Medical School Dean Claudia F. Lucchinetti, said the new medical center will be one of the most important initiatives ever undertaken by a university system to serve the people of Texas.

“The State of Texas has been on a mission to use higher education to expand access to healthcare, and today marks a giant step towards achieving our goals,” said Governor Abbott. “UT MD Anderson Cancer Center is ranked No. 1 for cancer care in America, with people across the world traveling to Houston to access care. But rather than having Texans travel to MD Anderson in Houston, we will now bring the world’s best treatment to them. Families across Central Texas who are affected by cancer every year can now stay close to home for that care. The key to building sustainable communities is a healthcare infrastructure that can meet the needs of a booming population. UT Austin and MD Anderson will help us meet those needs. The Texas of tomorrow will be shaped by what UT Austin and MD Anderson are building here today."

“The plans announced today by the Board of Regents will support an extraordinary expansion of the UT System’s education, health care, and research missions to serve Texas,” added Milliken. “As one of the nation’s largest comprehensive university systems, the UT System has fostered numerous collaborative opportunities across our institutions, and this latest one will include a relationship between UT Austin and UT MD Anderson that is an extraordinary demonstration of how this kind of synergy can positively and dramatically impact the lives of Texans.”

The nation’s top-ranked UT MD Anderson Cancer Center and flagship UT Austin to build new hospitals as part of project. 

University of Texas System Regents Announce Plans to Build UT Medical Center On Site of Erwin Center

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced that Christopher Flowers, M.D., an internationally recognized physician-scientist and leader in oncology, has been selected as Division Head of Cancer Medicine after a competitive national search. His appointment is effective Sept. 1.

The Division of Cancer Medicine is the largest academic division at MD Anderson, including 13 clinical academic departments, three research academic departments and numerous programs, laboratories and patient care centers involving more than 300 faculty and over 2,000 staff.

“Chris is highly regarded in the hematology and medical oncology communities, and his deep commitment to training and mentoring the next generation is inspiring,” said Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president of MD Anderson. “His leadership and passion for advancing our mission will undoubtedly shape the future of oncology. I applaud the work he has done as interim Division Head, and I have full confidence that he will continue to lead us toward remarkable strides in Making Cancer History®.”

Flowers joined MD Anderson as Chair of Lymphoma/Myeloma in Aug. 2019 and was named Division Head 

 for Cancer Medicine in Sept. 2020. He is an internationally recognized expert in lymphoma clinical care, epidemiology and outcomes research, and he is an innovator who has a passion for facilitating new drug development.

He is an active clinician who leads research on cancer outcomes, cancer informatics, and early-stage clinical trials focusing on the clinical development of novel therapeutics for B-cell lymphomas. His broader research interests include patient-oriented research in lymphoma and computer microsimulation models aimed at developing strategies to individualize care for cancer patients and improve systems of care.

Flowers earned his M.D. from Stanford University School of Medicine, where he also obtained an MSc in Medical Informatics to gain expertise in developing information systems to improve clinical research. He completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine from the University of Washington in Seattle, where he continued his research training as a fellow in the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program and earned a second MSc in Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy. During this time, he also completed his fellowship in Medical Oncology at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

He began his career at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, where he was on faculty in the Hematology and Oncology department with a joint appointment in Biomedical Informatics. During his tenure there, he served the Winship Cancer Institute as Director of the Emory Healthcare–Lymphoma Program for 13 years and as Scientific Director of Research Informatics for four years.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to lead such a stellar group of clinicians, scientists and staff at MD Anderson,” Flowers said. “I am committed to advancing our efforts in research, patient care and education, with a focus on innovation and collaboration. Together, we will continue to push the boundaries of cancer medicine, striving to improve outcomes and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by cancer."

Flowers previously has served in many leadership roles for national professional societies and was elected to membership in the American Society of Clinical Investigation in 2016. Of note is his service in the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), in which he has served as Chair of the ASCO guidelines on management of febrile neutropenia and as Chair of the ASCO Health Disparities Committee. In 2018, he was named a Fellow of ASCO. In 2022, he was named an African American Healthcare Leader to Know by 

 and was elected to the Association of American Physicians. 

His work has resulted in over 300 peer-reviewed publications. He has also received peer-reviewed funding from foundations, the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas, The University of Texas System Science and Technology Acquisition and Retention program, the the National Institutes of Health including leading two U01 awards and two multi-institutional team science grants.

“Throughout our rigorous search process, we sought the individual with the best combination of academic, technical and leadership skills to lead our largest academic division” said Welela Tereffe, M.D., chief medical executive of MD Anderson. “Chris has served with distinction as interim Division Head, and I know he will continue doing an outstanding job as he formally steps into the role.”

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced that Christopher Flowers, MD, an internationally recognized physician-scientist and leader in oncology, has been selected as Division Head of Cancer Medicine after a competitive national search. 

MD Anderson Names Christopher Flowers, MD, Division Head of Cancer Medicine

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center was awarded more than $10 million in grants to support collaborative research teams working to advance novel interception and treatment strategies that will improve outcomes for several cancer types with the greatest unmet need, including 

, this work is part of $50 million in grants being made to teams across five cancer research centers: MD Anderson, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT.

This new model for collaboration enables researchers to boldly tackle some of the biggest challenges in cancer. Break Through Cancer’s innovative approach will help overcome conventional barriers to multi-institution teamwork by using streamlined processes and systems for more effective data collaborations.

Giulio Draetta, MD, PhD, MD Anderson’s chief scientific officer, and David Jaffray, PhD, MD Anderson’s chief technology and digital officer, serve as members of the Break Through Cancer Board of Directors.

“Collaborative team science is the cornerstone of our work at MD Anderson, with the goal of advancing breakthroughs that can improve patients’ lives. We also know that, to make real progress, our research cannot stand alone,” Draetta said. “Break Through Cancer’s unique approach unites some of the greatest minds in cancer research to better understand disease mechanisms underlying currently intractable cancers. Through this work, we hope to drive real impact and innovation.”

All projects funded by Break Through Cancer will use a model that allows researchers and physicians from each institution to work collaboratively in real time. Additionally, new technology and systems will make data collaborations frictionless. Reducing the day-to-day barriers to cross-institutional collaboration, such as contract negotiations, data access, intellectual property management and authorship rights, will pave the way for faster discoveries.

Together with Jaffray, Caroline Chung, MD, MD Anderson’s chief data officer, has worked closely with Break Through Cancer to coordinate our approach to data. In partnership with Break Through Cancer’s growing multi-institutional data science team, Chung has shaped the interface between data governance and data science to enable seamless collaborations across institutions and domains — basic science, clinical research and data science — to make transformative advances in cancer.

“New models and infrastructure are essential to enable the seamless collaboration required for an effort of this significance,” Jaffray said. “Our work will allow researchers across the country to collaborate as if they are standing shoulder to shoulder, transforming the team science process so we can accelerate meaningful progress.”

Projects have been funded based on their unique cohort of researchers and potentially transformational science. The projects and faculty researchers include:

 – Barrett Lawson, MD, Karen Lu, MD, Larissa Meyer, MD, and Linghua Wang, MD, PhD

Targeting Minimal Residual Disease in Ovarian Cancer

 – Tyler Hillman, MD, PhD, Amir Jazaeri, MD, Karen Lu, MD, Linghua Wang, MD, PhD and Shannon Westin, MD

Conquering KRAS in Pancreatic Cancer (in partnership with the Lustgarten Foundation)

 – Ronald DePinho, MD, Timothy Heffernan, PhD, Raghu Kalluri, MD, PhD, Anirban Maitra, MBBS, Shubham Pant, MD, and Linghua Wang, MD, PhD

Revolutionizing GBM Drug Development Through Serial Biopsies

 – Kadir Akdemir, PhD, Sangeeta Goswami, MD, PhD, Jian Hu, PhD, Jason Huse, MD, PhD, Wen Jiang, MD, PhD, Betty Kim, MD, PhD, Frederick Lang, MD, Vinay Puduvalli, MD, Padmanee Sharma, MD, PhD, Shiao-Pei Weathers, MD, and Ying Yuan, PhD

“We are honored to be part of this united effort that aligns so well with our mission to end cancer,” said Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president of MD Anderson. “This tremendous support from Break Through Cancer will stimulate compelling projects being led by many of the top minds across the country, and we look forward to seeing impactful results.”

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center was awarded more than $10 million in grants to support collaborative research teams working to advance novel interception and treatment strategies that will improve outcomes for several cancer types with the greatest unmet need.

MD Anderson Receives Over $10 million from Break Through Cancer to Support Collaborative Research With Leading Cancer Centers

In honor of their notable contributions to the field of cancer research, 

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

American Association for the Advancement of Science

 (AAAS). Being named an AAAS Fellow is among the highest honors in the scientific research community. 

The 2021 class of AAAS Fellows includes 564 engineers, inventors and scientists. The fellows are elected by their peers, a tradition that began in 1874 in order to recognize invaluable contributions to science and technology. With the addition of Fueyo and Prieto, MD Anderson’s faculty now includes 48 AAAS Fellows.

“We are very proud of Juan and Victor for being elected as AAAS Fellows and for their numerous scientific accomplishments,” said MD Anderson President 

 “This recognition honors their longstanding effort, creativity and motivation to advance cancer research and to ensure MD Anderson’s patients – and cancer patients around the world – receive outstanding cancer care.”

 and director of Neuro-Oncology Experimental Research. He was chosen for his innovative conceptualization of Delta-24, a novel tumor-selective oncolytic adenovirus to treat recurrent glioblastoma and brain metastases. His development of new immune therapies and oncolytic adenoviruses from bench to bedside has been a vital contribution to the field of oncolytic viral therapy. Because of his work, oncolytic viruses are now viewed as a promising new type of immunotherapy.

. He was selected for his seminal contributions to molecular biology of melanocytic neoplasms, discovery of biomarkers for prognostication, evaluation of therapy response in patients with cutaneous neoplasms and standardization of pathology reporting. His work has enabled scientists to better understand melanocytic neoplasms, which are a historically difficult type of lesion to classify and diagnose, and to utilize sentinel lymph node biopsies to determine whether a cutaneous malignancy has metastasized, along with those histologic features that have predictive prognostic value.

“The AAAS Fellows exemplify research excellence and the power of science to change the world,” said MD Anderson Chief Scientific Officer 

 “Having 48 of our stellar researchers recognized as a part of this group is a testament to the incredible science being led at MD Anderson.”

The new fellows will be featured in the AAAS News & Notes section of 

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

 in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. The institution’s sole mission is to end cancer for patients and their families around the world. MD Anderson is one of only 51 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). MD Anderson is No. 1 for cancer in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” rankings and has been named one of the nation’s top two hospitals for cancer since the rankings started in 1990. MD Anderson receives a cancer center support grant from the NCI of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA016672). 

In honor of their notable contributions to the field of cancer research, Juan Fueyo, MD, and Victor Prieto, MD, PhD, from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, have been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.


MD Anderson Cancer Center

Articles

MD Anderson Launches Institute for Cell Therapy Discovery & Innovation to Deliver Transformational New Therapies

University of Texas System Regents Announce Plans to Build UT Medical Center On Site of Erwin Center

MD Anderson Names Christopher Flowers, MD, Division Head of Cancer Medicine

MD Anderson Receives Over $10 million from Break Through Cancer to Support Collaborative Research With Leading Cancer Centers

MD Anderson Researchers Elected as AAAS Fellows