Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas

Marker Therapeutics is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing adoptive non-gene modified T cell therapies for treating hematologic malignancies. Its MultiTAA technology selectively expands non-engineered T cells to target and kill tumor cells expressing multiple tumor-associated antigens, preventing immune escape.

Barricade Therapeutics is a private biotech firm headquartered in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. It specializes in developing innovative cancer therapies by targeting mutated genes using novel first-in-class small molecules. The company integrates complex molecule synthesis, chemistry, and molecular pharmacology to advance its therapeutic approaches, aiming to enhance patient care through improved treatments.

Prana Thoracic, Inc., based in Houston, is a medical device startup focused on developing innovative solutions for the early intervention of lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The company aims to address the critical challenges in lung cancer screening and diagnosis, where only a small percentage of cases are detected at an early stage. Prana Thoracic's advanced electrosurgical instrument utilizes bipolar radiofrequency energy to perform minimally invasive procedures, enabling physicians to capture and diagnose small, hard-to-reach lung nodules while reducing the risk of complications. By enhancing the tools available for surgical oncology in lung cancer, Prana Thoracic seeks to improve patient outcomes and capitalize on recent advancements in screening guidelines, ensuring early intervention opportunities are not missed.

7 Hills Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Houston, Texas. It focuses on developing innovative therapies to enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell therapy, and cord blood transplant for treating solid tumors and orphan genetic diseases.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio serves San Antonio and the 50,000 square-mile area of South Texas. It extends to campuses in the metropolitan border communities of Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley. More than 3,000 students a year train in an environment that involves more than 100 affiliated hospitals, clinics and health care facilities in South Texas. The UT Health Science Center and its Cancer Therapy & Research Center hold diversity as a core value. In this context, they are mindful of all aspects of human differences, such as socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, language, nationality, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, geography, disability and age. At the UT Health Science Center and CTRC, inclusion is a core element for successfully achieving diversity, as they strive to create a climate that fosters belonging, respect and value for all. As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, the UT Health Science Center and CTRC exercise these core values of diversity and inclusion by promoting and ensuring equal employment opportunity for all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.

Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), located in Houston, Texas, is a prominent non-profit health sciences university founded in 1900. It offers a range of medical education programs, including a medical school that trains future physicians and an allied health division that provides education in nurse anesthesia, physician assisting, and prosthetics and orthotics. BCM emphasizes early patient interaction, allowing medical students to engage with patients shortly after beginning their studies. The institution is recognized for its graduate research division, consistently ranked among the top in the United States. Graduates of BCM have established successful careers as physicians, medical researchers, and leaders in the pharmaceutical industry. Additionally, BCM offers an innovative eight-year medical program for exceptional high school students. Admissions to its various programs are competitive, involving multiple phases and considering test scores, GPA, and coursework. Financial aid options, including federal grants and scholarships, are available to support students in their educational pursuits.

7 Hills Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Houston, Texas. It focuses on developing innovative therapies to enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell therapy, and cord blood transplant for treating solid tumors and orphan genetic diseases.

OncoResponse is an immuno‑oncology biotechnology company that uses a proprietary human antibody platform to discover novel targets and develop fully human monoclonal antibodies for cancer treatment. By interrogating the adaptive immune system of patients who respond exceptionally well to checkpoint inhibition, the company identifies genuine human antibodies against high‑value targets linked with immunosuppressive myeloid biology. Its pipeline aims to alleviate tumor‑microenvironment immunosuppression and enhance immune activation, converting cold tumors into hot ones and providing new therapeutic options for patients.

ImmuneSensor Therapeutics is a biotechnology company based in Dallas, Texas, founded in 2019. The company focuses on developing innovative medicines aimed at harnessing the body's innate immune system to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases. ImmuneSensor Therapeutics works on targeting specific pathways to modulate the innate immune response, with the goal of enhancing anticancer immunity through stimulators of interferon gene activators. Additionally, the company seeks to create inhibitors that can suppress overactive autoimmunity. By activating innate immune defenses in response to cytosolic DNA from pathogens, cellular stress, and damaged tumor cells, ImmuneSensor Therapeutics aims to provide effective therapeutic solutions for a variety of diseases.

Prana Thoracic, Inc., based in Houston, is a medical device startup focused on developing innovative solutions for the early intervention of lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The company aims to address the critical challenges in lung cancer screening and diagnosis, where only a small percentage of cases are detected at an early stage. Prana Thoracic's advanced electrosurgical instrument utilizes bipolar radiofrequency energy to perform minimally invasive procedures, enabling physicians to capture and diagnose small, hard-to-reach lung nodules while reducing the risk of complications. By enhancing the tools available for surgical oncology in lung cancer, Prana Thoracic seeks to improve patient outcomes and capitalize on recent advancements in screening guidelines, ensuring early intervention opportunities are not missed.

InformAI provides artificial intelligence and analytics solutions for healthcare, enabling faster diagnoses, improved radiology productivity, and enhanced patient outcome analysis. The company develops AI-enabled tools for image classification in MRI and CT scans, natural language processing of medical reports for business analytics, and predictive models for patient outcomes and operational efficiency. Its software targets healthcare systems, imaging/PACS providers, medical device companies, and research institutes, supporting diagnostic decision-making, workflow optimization, and risk assessment across clinical care. Founded in 2017 and based in Houston, InformAI aims to synthesize large clinical datasets and deliver actionable insights to drive improved patient outcomes and operational performance.

Plus Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company based in Austin, Texas, dedicated to the discovery, development, and manufacturing of innovative treatments for cancer and rare diseases. The company's lead product candidate, DocePLUS, is a protein-stabilized PEGylated liposomal formulation of docetaxel aimed at treating small cell lung cancer. Additionally, Plus Therapeutics is developing DoxoPLUS, a formulation of doxorubicin intended for breast and ovarian cancer, multiple myeloma, and Kaposi’s sarcoma. The company is also engaged in developing therapies for central nervous system cancers, including recurrent glioblastoma and leptomeningeal metastases, with a key candidate being rhenium (186Re) obisbemeda. Plus Therapeutics leverages proprietary nanotechnology to enhance drug delivery and efficacy while minimizing side effects. Founded in 1996, the company was previously known as Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. before rebranding in July 2019.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio serves San Antonio and the 50,000 square-mile area of South Texas. It extends to campuses in the metropolitan border communities of Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley. More than 3,000 students a year train in an environment that involves more than 100 affiliated hospitals, clinics and health care facilities in South Texas. The UT Health Science Center and its Cancer Therapy & Research Center hold diversity as a core value. In this context, they are mindful of all aspects of human differences, such as socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, language, nationality, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, geography, disability and age. At the UT Health Science Center and CTRC, inclusion is a core element for successfully achieving diversity, as they strive to create a climate that fosters belonging, respect and value for all. As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, the UT Health Science Center and CTRC exercise these core values of diversity and inclusion by promoting and ensuring equal employment opportunity for all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.

OncoNano Medicine develops nanotechnology-based cancer imaging and therapeutic solutions that exploit the acidic tumor microenvironment. The company advances pH-activated compounds and ultra pH-sensitive polymeric micelle systems to localize activity, enable fluorescence-guided surgery, and improve delivery and activation of cancer therapies with reduced side effects. Its ONM-100 program targets tumor acidosis to differentiate cancer tissue from healthy tissue during surgical procedures and to enhance treatment precision.

Founded in 2018 and based in Dallas, Texas, Dialectic Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative anti-cancer drugs. Utilizing its proprietary Antiapoptotic Protein Targeted Degradation (APTaD) technology, the company aims to selectively induce cancer cell degradation and susceptibility to chemotherapy, potentially increasing disease-free survival for patients with limited treatment options.

Marker Therapeutics is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing adoptive non-gene modified T cell therapies for treating hematologic malignancies. Its MultiTAA technology selectively expands non-engineered T cells to target and kill tumor cells expressing multiple tumor-associated antigens, preventing immune escape.

Founded in 2018 and based in Dallas, Texas, Dialectic Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative anti-cancer drugs. Utilizing its proprietary Antiapoptotic Protein Targeted Degradation (APTaD) technology, the company aims to selectively induce cancer cell degradation and susceptibility to chemotherapy, potentially increasing disease-free survival for patients with limited treatment options.

The University of Texas at Dallas is a public research university located in Richardson, Texas, approximately 18 miles from downtown Dallas. It offers over 140 academic programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, supported by 50 research centers and institutes that focus on areas such as Space Science, Bioengineering, Cybersecurity, and Nanotechnology. Renowned for its rigorous academic standards, UT Dallas attracts high-performing students, generally admitting those with SAT scores above 1200. The university's programs in MBA and Engineering are highly ranked, further enhancing its reputation. In addition to academics, UT Dallas boasts a vibrant campus life with over 160 student organizations and a Division III athletics program. The institution prioritizes student support, providing resources for career, academic, and personal counseling. Notably, the "tuition promise" plan ensures that eligible low-income students receive grants to cover their tuition costs. This combination of high academic standards, research opportunities, and student support makes the University of Texas at Dallas a distinguished institution in higher education.

Aravive Biologics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Houston, Texas, founded in 2008. The company specializes in developing novel cancer therapeutics aimed at treating various types of malignancies, including solid tumors and hematologic cancers. Aravive's approach involves targeting critical survival pathways, with a key therapeutic candidate designed to act as a decoy that binds to the GAS6 pathway with high affinity, thereby preventing the activation of the AXL signaling pathway. This strategy is intended to inhibit cancer cell growth and survival.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio serves San Antonio and the 50,000 square-mile area of South Texas. It extends to campuses in the metropolitan border communities of Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley. More than 3,000 students a year train in an environment that involves more than 100 affiliated hospitals, clinics and health care facilities in South Texas. The UT Health Science Center and its Cancer Therapy & Research Center hold diversity as a core value. In this context, they are mindful of all aspects of human differences, such as socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, language, nationality, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, geography, disability and age. At the UT Health Science Center and CTRC, inclusion is a core element for successfully achieving diversity, as they strive to create a climate that fosters belonging, respect and value for all. As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, the UT Health Science Center and CTRC exercise these core values of diversity and inclusion by promoting and ensuring equal employment opportunity for all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.

Iterion Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Houston, Texas, focused on developing innovative therapeutics for cancer treatment. Established in 2010, the company specializes in targeted cancer therapies, with its lead product, Tegavivint, serving as a potent and selective inhibitor of the Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway. This pathway is known to play a critical role in various cancer-related processes, including cell proliferation and immune evasion. Tegavivint has demonstrated pre-clinical efficacy in several cancer models, such as desmoid tumors, acute myeloid leukemia, osteosarcoma, and various solid tumors. Iterion Therapeutics is actively enrolling patients in a Phase I clinical study of Tegavivint for desmoid tumors at multiple clinical centers across the United States and Canada.

University of Houston is a public research university located in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1927, it offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across disciplines including engineering, business, law, arts and sciences, and health sciences. The university houses specialized colleges such as Cullen College of Engineering and Bauer College of Business, along with the UH Law Center, with programs delivered on campus and online. It conducts extensive research across dozens of centers and supports faculty achievements in science and humanities. The university serves about 40,000 students annually and provides student services, scholarships, loans, and fellowships. It features a vibrant campus life with hundreds of student organizations and athletic programs, and connects students with internships and career opportunities through partnerships with national and regional employers.

OncoNano Medicine develops nanotechnology-based cancer imaging and therapeutic solutions that exploit the acidic tumor microenvironment. The company advances pH-activated compounds and ultra pH-sensitive polymeric micelle systems to localize activity, enable fluorescence-guided surgery, and improve delivery and activation of cancer therapies with reduced side effects. Its ONM-100 program targets tumor acidosis to differentiate cancer tissue from healthy tissue during surgical procedures and to enhance treatment precision.

Aravive Biologics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Houston, Texas, founded in 2008. The company specializes in developing novel cancer therapeutics aimed at treating various types of malignancies, including solid tumors and hematologic cancers. Aravive's approach involves targeting critical survival pathways, with a key therapeutic candidate designed to act as a decoy that binds to the GAS6 pathway with high affinity, thereby preventing the activation of the AXL signaling pathway. This strategy is intended to inhibit cancer cell growth and survival.

Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Houston, Texas, dedicated to the development of novel cellular immunotherapies for treating various cancers, including hematological malignancies and solid tumors. The company is advancing its innovative product candidates, notably BPX-601, an autologous GoCAR-T therapy targeting solid tumors that express prostate stem cell antigen, and BPX-603, a dual-switch GoCAR-T therapy aimed at tumors expressing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. Bellicum utilizes its proprietary Chemical Induction of Dimerization technology platform, which allows for real-time control over immune system components, enhancing the efficacy and duration of therapeutic responses. Founded in 2004, Bellicum Pharmaceuticals has established collaborations with several organizations to further its research and development efforts in immunotherapy.

CTRC, the premiere cancer treatment and research center in Central and South Texas. Patient care is our number one priority at the CTRC and we look forward to assisting you in any way we can -- whether it's simply with information or perhaps a second opinion on treatment for yourself or a family member. We have some of the world's leading experts in different types of cancer, as well as an integrated, multi-disciplinary care team that means more physicians, technicians and specialists are looking at each and every case, making sure it is the optimal treatment plan.

Pelican Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing monoclonal antibody and fusion protein-based therapies aimed at activating the immune system. Founded in 2009 and based in San Antonio, Texas, the company’s product pipeline includes PTX-35, a humanized monoclonal antibody that acts as a functional agonist of TNFRSF25, and PTX-15, a human TL1A-Ig fusion protein that promotes the proliferation of regulatory T cells in patients. Pelican Therapeutics emphasizes the advancement of immuno-oncology treatments, seeking to enhance the body’s ability to combat tumors and cancer cells through innovative biological agents.

DNAtrix, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Houston, Texas, with an additional office in San Diego, California. The company specializes in developing virus-driven immunotherapies for cancer treatment, focusing initially on glioblastoma, a highly aggressive and currently untreatable brain tumor. Its lead product, DNX-2401, is a modified oncolytic virus derived from a common cold virus, designed to selectively target and kill cancer cells. This innovative approach has shown promising results, with over 35 patients treated and positive early outcomes reported. In addition to DNX-2401, DNAtrix is advancing other candidates such as DNX-2440 and DNX-2450 for solid tumors, as well as MYX-135 for hematological malignancies. The company also has a strategic partnership with Valo Therapeutics, further enhancing its research and development capabilities in the field of cancer immunotherapy.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio serves San Antonio and the 50,000 square-mile area of South Texas. It extends to campuses in the metropolitan border communities of Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley. More than 3,000 students a year train in an environment that involves more than 100 affiliated hospitals, clinics and health care facilities in South Texas. The UT Health Science Center and its Cancer Therapy & Research Center hold diversity as a core value. In this context, they are mindful of all aspects of human differences, such as socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, language, nationality, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, geography, disability and age. At the UT Health Science Center and CTRC, inclusion is a core element for successfully achieving diversity, as they strive to create a climate that fosters belonging, respect and value for all. As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, the UT Health Science Center and CTRC exercise these core values of diversity and inclusion by promoting and ensuring equal employment opportunity for all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.

Molecular Templates, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Austin, Texas, dedicated to the discovery and development of biologic therapeutics aimed at treating cancer and other serious diseases. The company utilizes its proprietary engineered toxin body (ETB) platform to create therapies with unique mechanisms of action that differ from traditional antibody-drug conjugates. Its lead candidate, MT-3724, is currently undergoing Phase II clinical trials for relapsed and refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Additionally, Molecular Templates is developing other candidates, including MT-4019, which targets CD38, and has a partnership with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company to create CD38-targeted therapies for multiple myeloma. The company also collaborates with Vertex Pharmaceuticals to enhance the hematopoietic stem cell transplant process through novel conditioning regimens.

Pulmotect, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company based in Houston, Texas, specializing in the development of inhaled therapeutics aimed at preventing and treating respiratory infections, particularly in cancer patients with compromised immune systems. Founded in 2007, the company's innovative approach focuses on enhancing the innate immune system to provide rapid and effective protection against a wide range of pathogens, including bacterial pneumonia, influenza, and fungal pneumonia, as well as potential bioterror agents. Pulmotect’s lead product, PUL-042, is a clinical-stage inhaled therapeutic that delivers immediate immune response, offering broad-spectrum protection that lasts for several days. By boosting the body’s natural defenses, Pulmotect aims to significantly reduce morbidity and mortality in vulnerable patient populations at risk of severe respiratory diseases.