Texas Tech Health Sciences Center Researchers Receive Cancer Prevention Research Grants

Texas Tech’s Health Sciences Center has received more than $1.5 million in grants from a state organization.

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas awarded the grants to TTUHSC researchers Min Kang, Pharm.D. and Kalkunte S. Srivenugopal, Ph.D.

Kang, an associate professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, received more than $821,000 for her research on a drug derived from vitamin A called isotretinoin being used to treat neuroblastoma or pediatric cancer.

Srivenugopal, an associate professor in the School of Pharmacy, received more than $777,000 for his research in non-toxic therapeutic strategies for pediatric brain cancers.

“This is wonderful news for TTUHSC since these grants are so competitive,” said Doug Stocco, TTUHSC executive vice president for research.

He continued, saying “Drs. Kang and Srivenugopal deserve all of the credit in the world by demonstrating their research programs are functioning at a statewide and nationally competitive level.”

CPRIT was established in 2007 in a voter-approved Texas constitutional amendment.