Translational Oncology Research Program Leader
Tony Ye Hu, PhD
Weatherhead Presidential Chair in Biotechnology Innovation
Director, Center for Cellular & Molecular Diagnostics
tonyhu@tulane.edu
Program Aims:
Aim 1: Develop and implement early detection strategies for high-burden cancers in our catchment area to improve outcomes and reduce mortality.
- Focus on advancing early detection techniques for breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, hematological malignancies, and colorectal cancer.
- Explore the genetic and environmental factors influencing early onset and mutation profiles, including paternal-side contributions in triple-negative breast cancer without family history.
- Translate insights into early detection tools to enhance clinical decision-making and intervention.
Aim 2: Drive the translation of laboratory discoveries into investigator-initiated clinical trials (IITs) for targeted cancer treatment.
- Develop IITs for the five primary disease focuses (breast, prostate, lung, hematological, and colorectal cancers), informed by findings from preclinical research.
- Establish a pipeline for translating clinical discoveries into novel therapeutic trials, emphasizing personalized and precision medicine approaches.
- Launch and accrue patients to IITs that align with cutting-edge research in tumor biology, genomics, and immunotherapy.
Aim 3: Advance medicinal chemistry and drug targeting for challenging cancers to accelerate therapeutic innovation.
- Focus on pancreatic, dermatological, neuro-oncological, and breast cancers, with an emphasis on identifying and targeting novel molecular pathways.
- Leverage medicinal chemistry to optimize drug design and delivery, prioritizing tumor-specific mechanisms for enhanced efficacy.
- Conduct preclinical and clinical studies to validate therapeutic agents and strategies that address the unmet needs of high-risk cancer subtypes.
