A new collaboration between The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Rice University promises to drive industry growth and advance life-saving technologies through the newly established Cancer Bioengineering Collaborative. The initiative will help foster collaboration between the two institutions on fundamental and translational cancer research, 开发癌症检测和治疗的新技术, 确保外部资金支持进一步的研究和培训. Rice researcher and Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) scholar Gang Bao and MD Anderson’s Dr. Jeffrey Molldrem将领导该中心.  “从癌症科学的基本发现, tumor immunology and patient care to innovative engineering advances in drug delivery systems, 纳米结构与合成生物学, there is great potential for enabling cross-disciplinary collaboration to develop new technologies and approaches for detecting, 监测和治疗癌症,“Molldrem, 造血生物学主席 & Malignancy at MD Anderson, said in a release. “Our goal is to bridge the gap between bioengineering and cancer research to create transformative solutions that significantly improve patient outcomes.” 该合作组织还将每月举办以癌症生物工程为重点的研讨会, annual retreats to highlight research and international leaders in cancer and bioengineering. 五个研究领域将成为该中心工作的核心: 细胞疗法:开发更有效的基于细胞的免疫疗法, 包括基于嵌合抗原受体和T细胞受体的方法. 纳米技术:利用纳米颗粒进行靶向癌症检测和治疗. 癌症疫苗:采用先进的生物材料, 合成生物学和纳米颗粒递送系统开发治疗性癌症疫苗. Artificial intelligence: Leveraging advanced computing tools for high-precision analysis of samples to identify new targets and inform therapeutic design. Molecular imaging: Deploying advanced molecular imaging techniques to enhance diagnostic and therapeutic tools. A seed grant program will also be established to fund research projects in the early stages of development. The partnership between Rice and MD Anderson is a testament to how the greater Houston region is committed to advancing the life sciences and biotech industry. 该地区最近出现了新的重大生命科学发展, 包括Levit Green, TMC螺旋公园和亚历山大先进技术中心.   

Houston continues to evolve as a premier destination for life sciences and biomanufacturing through a multifaceted strategy that capitalizes on its existing strengths and fosters innovation and growth.   自1945年成立以来, the Texas Medical Center has evolved into a vast medical district spanning 5 square miles  and serving over ten million patients annually.  德克萨斯医疗中心内有60多家机构, 作为休斯顿协作生态系统的催化剂, 比如细胞治疗制造中心, JLABS@TMC和CUBIO. This helps set the stage for groundbreaking research and provides direct access to nearly 5,000个正在进行的临床试验, 这是创新的一大福音.   Recent years have witnessed significant strides in laying a robust foundation for Houston's position as a leader in innovative life sciences and biotechnology. 这些努力在上个月Bisnow的生命科学进化活动上成为焦点, 与生命科学行业的领导者一起, real estate and innovation envisioning the future growth of the Houston life sciences market. 作为优势共享的资产包括获得临床试验的机会, 商业环境, 劳动力努力和生活质量.   “能够接触到患者群体对成功至关重要, 尤其是多元化的人口,莫尼克·奈特, Portal 创新s的博士说. “获得这些临床试验和相关专业知识是一个关键的好处, 而且住得离科学发展的地方很近.”   立法行为, such as the passage of Proposition 10 in November which provides new incentives for medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, 提高区域竞争力和经济前景. 另外, 对劳动力发展的投资, exemplified by collaborations between educational institutions and industry partners like San Jacinto College and the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT), 确保未来有一个熟练的人才库.  “与公司的关系, 大学和高中是一体的,” Pearland EDC Vice President Brian Malone said on the panel at Bisnow discussing suburban life sciences growth. “We’ve really worked hard on that with a business retention plan to find out what type of training and what type of workers these companies need.”   此外, substantial real estate investments further support life sciences research and development. TMC’s Helix Park opened in 2023 with the TMC Collaborative Building and industry research hub Dynamic One, 新租户休斯顿卫理公会租了75号,800平方英尺. 就在医疗区北边, 海恩斯的Levit Green目前租赁了近300辆,000平方英尺 of purpose-built lab and office space as part of a future 53-acre district. 在地铁的东北侧, McCord’s master-planned Generation Park recently broke ground on a new Center for 生物技术 in partnership with San Jacinto College. 在森林里, 亚历山大正在把科技森林广场8800号开发成325号,000平方英尺的A级空间.   Initiatives such as the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and a thriving innovation ecosystem further reinforce the city's position at the forefront of bioscience breakthroughs and economic impact.  拥有战略优势，比如一流的港口, 多样化的人口, 以及进入全球市场的可能性, 休斯顿准备进一步提升其作为生命科学创新中心的地位. 随着休斯顿继续推进其生命科学和生物技术领域, 合作和增长的机会比比皆是, 推动公共卫生进步，推动下一波生物科学创新.   探索休斯顿充满活力的生命科学生态系统.