Postdoctoral Fellow from UTHSC awarded $150,000 grant | Health

James Fell Sr. PhD has recieved funding for his research in Breast Cancer from American Cancer Society this month.

A postdoctoral fellowship from the society awarded Dr. Fells $150,000 to further his study being conducted in the Deparment of Physiology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Dr. Fells' research uses computer-aided drug discovery to identify small molecules that target a protien, LPA2.

The goal is to develop LPA2 antagonists to help the treatment of Breast Cancer. "We plan to use these drugs in combination with conventional treatment to improve therapy," said Dr. Fells.

This fellowship provides independent funding that will allow Dr. Fells to follow training in cancer discovery.

"I am honored to receive this prestigious postdoctoral fellowship from the American Cancer Society," Dr. Fells said.

"The excellent guidance of my postdoctoral mentors will aid in my goal of designing novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer."

Dr. Fells says that his long time mentors in the UTHSC Center of Cancer Research are Gabor Tigyi, MD, PhD and Tiffany Seagroves, MD. Dr. Tigyi is chairman in the UTHSC Department of Physiology. 

Dianna Johnson, PhD, director of the Postdoctoral Office at UTHSC, noted ACS award givin to Dr. Fells was siginifican because it represents the success she would like to see from all the postdoctoral students. All the postdoctoral students are examining the new therapies for cancer.

"The award will fund cutting-edge research that will uncover new knowledge directly applicable in the treatment of cancer. At the same time, it will provide exemplary training for Dr. Fells as he prepares for his own independent research program," said Johnson.