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Congressman Panetta Announces $3.12 Million Federal Grant for University of California, Santa Cruz Cancer Research

July 22, 2021

Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) announced that the University of California, Santa Cruz will receive a $3.12 million grant from the National Cancer Institute for protein-RNA interactions in cancer biology research. Dr. Jeremy Sanford, a Professor at UCSC studying the roles of protein-RNA interactions in gene regulation and human inherited diseases, will manage the project.

"I am pleased to announce that the National Cancer Institute is awarding UCSC a federal grant for their groundbreaking work to treat and prevent cancer," said Representative Panetta. "Protein-RNA research is a promising field of study and this investment will help find new and innovative cures for cancer. Our community is proud of the life-saving research UCSC is doing, and we look forward to watching Dr. Sanford lead this promising project."

"Protein—RNA interactions are fundamental to the inner working of our cells. The expression of all genetic information, including the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, are controlled through a network of protein—RNA interactions. When this network is disrupted myriad human diseases, including cancer, can occur. Our new research project investigates the function of an RNA binding protein called IGF2BP3 in the initiation and maintenance of Leukemia. Importantly, IGF2BP3 goes rogue in a variety of other cancers. We anticipate that our work on IGF2BP3 will have broad impacts on cancer biology, diagnostics and future therapies," said Dr. Jeremy Sanford, Professor of Molecular, Cell & Development Biology, UC Santa Cruz.

Issues:Health