Paceline grant helping cancer researcher study the immune system

Since 2009, the nonprofit organization Paceline has invested almost $1.5 million in cancer research. Earlier this year, Paceline presented grants to six research teams. 

Santhakumar Manicassamy, PhD, a professor at Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia and the Georgia Cancer Center, was awarded funding for his project “Targeting RXRα signaling network in combination with immunotherapy to induce robust antitumor immune responses.”

“My project focuses on understanding how the immune system works, including how it protects us from cancer and infections,” said Manicassamy.

The immune system is a network of cells, proteins and organs that work together to defend the body against infection. It can be weakened due to cancer and cancer treatments, meaning patients undergoing cancer treatments or still recovering from treatments have a higher risk of getting sick.

Manicassamy’s team is currently learning about the signaling network, which plays an important role in developing tumor progression and controlling immune responses.

“By understanding this basic mechanism, we will be able to target this pathway and develop new therapeutic strategies against cancer,” Manicassamy said.

This type of baseline research is crucial in discovering new ways to treat and detect cancer. Manicassamy’s current goal is to spend the next year gathering preliminary data so his lab can build on this research and gain additional grant funding to continue this important research.

Paceline’s goal is to cure cancer faster, and they do so by hosting their annual bike ride, PaceDay, where teams and individuals in our community raise funds for the Georgia Cancer Center.

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