Research
Next Generation of Antibody Drugs: High-Hanging Fruits
Since the inventions of hybridoma in 1970s and phage panning in 1990s, numerous technologies have been developed for the discovery and engineering of mAbs, the powerhouse of biopharmaceutical industry to date. However, it is still a daunting challenge for developing therapeutic mAbs against difficult targets. Examples of so called high-hanging fruits include (1) antibodies not only binding but also rendering functions needed for therapy, such as enzyme inhibition and broad neutralization against viruses; (2) mAb modulators of membrane proteins including GPCRs and ion channels; and (3) biologics able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB).
Funding
California Breast Cancer Research Program
The mission of the California Breast Cancer Research Program is to prevent and eliminate breast cancer by leading innovation in research, communication, and collaboration in the California scientific and lay communities.
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs
The CDMRP originated in 1992 via a Congressional appropriation to foster novel approaches to biomedical research in response to the expressed needs of its stakeholders-the American public, the military, and Congress.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
NIAID conducts and supports basic and applied research to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases. For more than 60 years, NIAID research has led to new therapies, vaccines, diagnostic tests, and other technologies that have improved the health of millions of people in the United States and around the world.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) supports basic research that increases understanding of biological processes and lays the foundation for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke’s mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease for all people.
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense…” NSF is vital because we support basic research and people to create knowledge that transforms the future.
University of California
The University of California began more than 150 years ago on a simple but revolutionary idea: that college should be available to everyone. That same spirit still guides us today.
UTHealth Houston
As one of the nation’s most comprehensive academic health science centers, UTHealth Houston brings together the best in health care across hundreds of disciplines and specialties. Teamwork fuels our excellence in health education, innovation, scientific discovery, and patient care, allowing us to solve the greatest health challenges of our time.