New Research Initiative at A&M Enables Advanced Cancer Treatments

Dr. Michelle Pozzi of Texas A&M Biochemistry and Biophysics department once heard the life-changing diagnosis from her doctors 20 months ago: cancer. The prognosis was severe; the cancer had already spread to all her bones, excluding her arms, legs, and hands. Today, though undergoing a rigorous combination of radiation treatments and cutting-edge medicine, Pozzi’s cancer is inactive. She continues to serve as a role model and an active professor.

Tackling Treatment Hurdles

Pozzi had to travel to Houston Methodist Cancer Center for her treatment due to the lack of specialized cancer care facilities in Bryan and College Station. The need for such facilities in central Texas is not unique to Pozzi, as other researchers confirm. A team of researchers is now taking action to change this reality. They are leading the initiative of Texas Regional Excellence in Cancer (TREC) at the A&M Health Science Center of Excellence in Cancer Research.

Their mission is to provide cancer patients in central Texas with access to state-of-the-art treatments and to eliminate the need for patients to travel to major cities for treatment.

Building the Infrastructure for Advanced Treatment

With a grant of $6 million, Texas A&M’s multi-disciplinary research groups in biomedical engineering, veterinary medicine, medical physiology, and biosciences are pursuing a daunting but rewarding task to create the TREC Center. The initiative requires new infrastructure and the recruitment of more scientists.

Dr. Shreya Raghavan, a committed researcher, is employing her grant funds to delve into an emerging field of cancer research: mechanobiology. Her ultimate aim is to uncover why certain aspects of cancer escape our body’s immune system. By doing so, she hopes to bring forward new ways to treat or prevent cancer.

High Priced Drugs: An Impediment for Many Patients

A significant part of Pozzi’s treatment involves participation in clinical trials and taking experimental drugs that may extend her life. However, the high price of certain medications poses a challenge for many cancer patients. Verzenio, the medicine Pozzi takes, costs $15,405.72 per month.

Shaping the Future of Cancer Research and Treatment

Dr. Weston Porter, a senior professor at the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, aims to address the rising trend of younger women diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States.

As a mentor at the TREC center, Porter is not only passing on his decades of experience but also facilitating the development of new treatments and research. He is confident that through the TREC center, they can get new treatments to the general population faster.

Pozzi sees her life from two perspectives. One is as a cancer patient seeking treatment, and the other is as an educator teaching students to understand how the human body is designed to work and what happens when things go wrong. She hopes that this dual role will instill empathy in her students, who are the healthcare professionals of the future.

Pozzi is aware of her condition and acknowledges that she will live with cancer for the rest of her life, but she also shares, ‘Through the hard, comes the great.’ For those willing to support Pozzi, contributions can be made to her GoFundMe campaign.

New research initiatives like the one at A&M are pivotal in providing advanced cancer treatments and spearheading future discoveries and breakthroughs in cancer treatment.