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The VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center has successfully completed the inaugural funding cycle of its VCU–Sanford Burnham Prebys Drug Discovery Collaborative Program, a landmark collaboration with the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) in La Jolla, California. The program encourages Massey investigators to identify optimal small-molecule agents against novel, high-value cancer targets, accelerating the translation of fundamental discoveries into therapeutic opportunities.

Through its Molecules to Medicine (M2M) initiative, Massey is proud to celebrate the first awards from this new collaborative program. Two Massey projects have been selected to receive $50,000 each in project funding to advance innovative cancer drug discovery efforts.

“This milestone marks a new era in translational cancer research at Massey,” said Robert A. Winn, M.D., director and Lipman Chair in Oncology at Massey. “By partnering with the world-class capabilities at SBP, we are enabling our investigators to move rapidly from biological discovery to the identification of potential therapeutic agents that could ultimately benefit patients.” 

The two funded projects, which will be co-led by SBP, are:

1. Project title: Targeting Hsp27-CerS1 Interaction in Solid Tumors. Led by Can Senkal, Ph.D., member of the Cancer Biology research program at Massey, assistant professor of cellular, molecular, and genetic medicine in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the VCU School of Medicine.
2. Project title: Cell-Based Screen for Ferroptosis-Inducing Compounds That Inhibit Selenocysteine Incorporation. Led by Anthony Faber, Ph.D., Natalie N. and John R. Congdon, Sr. Endowed Chair in Cancer Research, member of the Developmental Therapeutics Program at Massey and professor of oral and craniofacial molecular biology at the VCU School of Dentistry.

Both projects represent innovative strategies to uncover vulnerabilities in cancer biology and exemplify the collaborative and translational goals of the M2M initiative, which seeks to take clinical research from the laboratory to the patient’s bedside by supporting scientists in developing new cancer therapies and bringing promising treatments to clinical trials more quickly.

“We are extremely excited about this partnership between Massey and SBP,” said Said M. Sebti, Ph.D., M2M executive director, associate director of basic research at Massey, and a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the VCU School of Medicine. “This collaboration complements our internal capabilities by providing access to outstanding assay development expertise and industry-level high-throughput compound screening, allowing our faculty to pursue ambitious drug discovery projects against novel cancer targets.” Said M. Sebti, Ph.D., is the M2M executive director and associate director of basic research at Massey

These collaborations are designed to not only identify promising small-molecule compounds but also to generate the robust preliminary data packages needed to support competitive NIH and NCI R01 grant applications and future translational development. 

“Both projects are being executed in formal partnership with the Prebys Center for Drug Discovery at SBP,” said Shamik Ghosh, Ph.D., M2M director of operations. “The center is one of the nation’s leading academic drug discovery facilities, renowned for its high-throughput screening platforms, medicinal chemistry expertise and track record of translating basic biology into therapeutic candidates.”

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About Molecules to Medicine (M2M)

The Molecules to Medicine (M2M) initiative at the VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center is dedicated to creating smart therapeutic molecules, including drugs and biologics, that eliminate tumors while minimizing side effects, ultimately improving health for Virginians and beyond. Its vision is to promote transdisciplinary team science, bringing together chemists, biologists and clinicians to discover and develop innovative anticancer therapies that improve patient outcomes. The M2M portfolio consists of numerous research projects led by VCU faculty, spanning the full drug discovery and development continuum, from target identification and validation, to hit discovery and lead optimization, to proof-of-concept studies in cell culture and animal models, IND-enabling studies, and ultimately FDA authorization for early-phase clinical trials. Through its recent partnership with SBP, Massey investigators with compelling biological targets are no longer limited by access to early drug discovery infrastructure. By connecting faculty with SBP’s world-class screening platforms and expertise, the M2M initiative creates a clear pathway for academic scientists to identify optimal small-molecule targeting agents, generate translational data needed for federal funding, and move discoveries closer to patient benefit.

About Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

The Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute is a leading independent nonprofit biomedical research institute headquartered in La Jolla, California. The institute focuses on translating fundamental biological discoveries into innovative therapies for cancer, neurodegeneration, metabolic disorders and other serious diseases. Through advanced drug discovery platforms, including the Prebys Center for Drug Discovery, Sanford Burnham Prebys partners with academic institutions, industry and government to accelerate the development of new medicines that improve human health.