March 2026
Dr. Cheng Zhang Receives a Scholar-in-Training Award for the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research
Congratulations to Cheng Zhang, who received a Scholar-in-training award for AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Innovations in Kidney Cancer Research: From Molecular Insights to Therapeutic Breakthroughs, which was held from March 13th-March 16th, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA.
May 2025
Dr. Qing Zhang Awarded DoD Grant
The project aims to identify and validate novel “hidden drivers” in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) using advanced systems biology approaches. This work will investigate the role of NEK5 in tumor progression and explore new therapeutic strategies, including PROTAC-based degraders, to improve treatment outcomes for kidney cancer patients.
More About this ResearchMarch 2025
Dr. Jun Fang and Dr. Tao “Dylan” Wang Received DoD KCRP Fellowship Awards
Dr. Jun Fang from Dr. Qing Zhang’s lab was recognized for her work on HIF-2α regulation in ccRCC. Her research focuses on Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 (SOCS3) and its role in controlling HIF-2α through the JAK-STAT pathway. Her findings could lead to alternative treatment options for patients resistant to current HIF-2α inhibitors like Belzutifan.
Dr. Tao “Dylan” Wang, also from Dr. Zhang’s lab, received this funding for his research using CRISPR screening to identify oncogenic enhancers in ccRCC. His work highlights a novel PLXNA1 gene enhancer that drives tumor growth, with potential therapeutic implications for targeting ccRCC at the epigenetic level.
June 2024
Dr. Chengheng Liao Receives Society of Urologic Oncology Specialized Programs of Research Excellence Award
Dr. Chengheng Liao received support for a two-year research project titled “Investigation of BBOX1 as a novel tumor suppressor in ccRCC” at UT Southwestern, under the mentorship Qing Zhang, PhD.
More About this ResearchAugust 2023
Dr. Qing Zhang receives 2024 ASIP Outstanding Investigator Award
His research focuses on how cancer cells adapt to low-oxygen environments, driving tumor growth and resistance to therapy. His team has identified novel pathways and therapeutic targets in breast and kidney cancers. These findings may lead to new treatment strategies for cancer patients.
More About this ResearchApril 2023
Dr. Jin Zhou Receives 2022 AACR–Exelixis Renal Cell Carcinoma Research Fellowship
Dr. Jin Zhou has been awarded the 2022 AACR–Exelixis Renal Cell Carcinoma Research Fellowship by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). This fellowship supports innovative research aimed at advancing the understanding and treatment of kidney cancer. Her project, titled “RBM39-DGAT1 Axis is an Oncogenic Driver in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma,” focuses on uncovering key molecular mechanisms driving tumor progression. Her work may provide new insights into therapeutic targets and contribute to the development of more effective treatments for patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
More About this ResearchJuly 2020
Triple negative breast cancer meets its match
BBOX1 enzyme could serve as a drug target for the deadly subset of breast cancer.
More About this Research
July 2020
UTSW researchers uncover new vulnerability in kidney cancer
In their investigation of the most common type of kidney cancer, called clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), Qing Zhang, Ph.D., and his colleagues identified a possible way to treat tumors while sparing nearby healthy tissue.
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