RNA Therapeutics is emerging as an exciting new class of drugs to defeat cancer. RNA is a form of biological software that can instruct a cell to make proteins that can protect against cancer. For example message RNA can be made that generates vaccines against cancer; or to modify white blood cells so that they will be more effective at destroying cancer; or to instruct cells to make proteins that stimulate an inflammatory response against cancer. The goal of this proposal is to expand our current CPRIT-funded RNAcore to create a state-of-the-art comprehensive CPRIT RNA Therapeutics facility that will help academic groups and biotechs in Texas and aid to translate their ideas and innovations...

Read More

RNA Therapeutics is emerging as an exciting new class of drugs to defeat cancer. RNA is a form of biological software that can instruct a cell to make proteins that can protect against cancer. For example message RNA can be made that generates vaccines against cancer; or to modify white blood cells so that they will be more effective at destroying cancer; or to instruct cells to make proteins that stimulate an inflammatory response against cancer. The goal of this proposal is to expand our current CPRIT-funded RNAcore to create a state-of-the-art comprehensive CPRIT RNA Therapeutics facility that will help academic groups and biotechs in Texas and aid to translate their ideas and innovations into therapies. We will provide unique services in development, manufacturing, quality control, as well as animal and human testing of RNA drugs. Currently, with the help of CPRIT, we are supporting 50 R&D groups, and we now intend to help them and others move their projects toward the clinic. Now we propose to leverage the CPRIT funding with new HMRI resources (at no cost to CPRIT) which include an RNA bioinformatics group and RNA biology group, that together can analyze RNA data to build better drugs. We also have a nanomedicine group that can design and make carriers that will deliver the RNA to where it is needed in the body. In addition, HMRI has invested in clean room facilities and recruited a team that has experience in making drugs for people. We have veterinarians with experience in design and oversight of humane studies in animals to test drugs, and we have facilities and personnel to help with first-in-man clinical trials. There is no other academic program in the U.S. with comparable capabilities. With the assistance of CPRIT, we will build and operate a CPRIT core that will make Texas a world leader in RNA Therapeutics against cancer.

Read Less