Lee Receives CPRIT Award

Tae Jin Lee, PhD, has received nearly $250,000 in funding from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) for a project exploring a new therapeutic strategy against glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), one of the deadliest and least treatable brain malignancies. Lee holds dual appointments as associate professor in the Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery at McGovern Medical School and at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Lee’s project, “Inducing Senolysis With miRNA-433-3P for Enhanced Viroimmunotherapy in Glioblastoma,” investigates the use of miRNA-433-3p to induce a process called senolysis, enhancing the effectiveness of oncolytic herpes simplex virus-1 therapy. By sensitizing GBM cells to viral treatment, this approach aims to increase cancer cell death and stimulate antitumor immune responses, potentially improving survival rates for patients with limited treatment options.

“I’m excited about the new award and happy to share it with our community,” Lee says.