Cancer Cell Biology Research Program Archives - UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

September 1, 2026

News Medical: UNC researcher wins major grant to study the role of endoplasmic reticulum in T-cell metabolism

Three cancer researchers at a lab bench examining a sample.

Jessica Thaxton, PhD, has been awarded a prestigious $700,000 grant from the Mathers Foundation to support research into the role of the endoplasmic reticulum in T-cell metabolism and cancer development.

Pengda Liu, PhD, and colleagues are investigating a new way to tackle Ewing sarcoma, an aggressive and rare pediatric cancer that develops in the bones and soft tissues, while minimizing toxicity typically associated with chemotherapy.

Lindsey James, PhD, and colleagues are developing compounds that help eliminate cancer growth with the goal of creating more effective treatments for patients.

Pengda Liu was presented a $40,000 check from the Strides for Sarcoma Foundation.

Pengda Liu, PhD, was awarded $40,000 from the Strides for Sarcoma Foundation to support his work developing novel antibody-drug conjugates to facilitate the clinical translation of new targeted therapies for Ewing sarcoma.

Headshots of Xiaodong Wang and Pengda Liu.

Xiaodong Wang, PhD, and Pengda Liu, PhD, were awarded a $3.8 million NCI grant to develop a promising targeted treatment for a rare and aggressive pediatric cancer.

Headshots of the five faculty awardees of the Hettleman Prize.

The annual Hettleman Prizes have been awarded to promising faculty members who exemplify groundbreaking and innovative research, including UNC Lineberger members Daniel Dominguez, PhD, and Carmina G. Valle, PhD, MPH.

Ronit Freeman, Yevgeny Brudno, Michael Daniele and Matthew Fisher are Carolina faculty inducted into the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows.

UNC Lineberger's Ronit Freeman, PhD, and Yevgeny Brudno, PhD, were inducted as fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, one of the highest honors for researchers in this field. Four UNC faculty members received the honor.

Tag: Cancer Cell Biology Research Program

News Medical: UNC researcher wins major grant to study the role of endoplasmic reticulum in T-cell metabolism

Thaxton awarded prestigious grant for T-cell metabolism research

Health Medicine Network: How Biochemists discover new strategy to combat pediatric bone cancer

FirstWord Pharma: UNC Biochemists Discover New Method to Combat Pediatric Bone Cancer

UNC biochemists discover new method to combat pediatric bone cancer

Advancing new cancer therapeutics

Liu Lab receives Maia James Sarcoma Innovation Grant Award

Advancing new Ewing sarcoma therapy

2026 Hettleman Prizes awarded to five exceptional early-career faculty

Freeman, Brudno named AIMBE fellows