A new collaboration between The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Rice University promises to drive industry growth and advance life-saving technologies through the newly established Cancer Bioengineering Collaborative. The initiative will help foster collaboration between the two institutions on fundamental and translational cancer research, develop new technologies for cancer detection and therapy, and secure external funding in support of further research and training. Rice researcher and Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) scholar Gang Bao and MD Anderson’s Dr. Jeffrey Molldrem will lead the hub.  “From fundamental discoveries in cancer science, tumor immunology and patient care to innovative engineering advances in drug delivery systems, nanostructures and synthetic biology, there is great potential for enabling cross-disciplinary collaboration to develop new technologies and approaches for detecting, monitoring and treating cancer,” Molldrem, chair of Hematopoietic Biology & Malignancy at MD Anderson, said in a release. “Our goal is to bridge the gap between bioengineering and cancer research to create transformative solutions that significantly improve patient outcomes.” The collaborative will also host monthly seminars focused on cancer bioengineering, annual retreats to highlight research and international leaders in cancer and bioengineering. Five research areas will be at the core of the hub’s work: Cell therapies: Developing more effective cell-based immunotherapies, including chimeric antigen receptor- and T cell receptor-based approaches. Nanotechnologies: Using nanoparticles for targeted cancer detection and therapy. Cancer vaccines: Incorporating advanced biomaterials, synthetic biology and nanoparticle delivery systems to develop therapeutic cancer vaccines. Artificial intelligence: Leveraging advanced computing tools for high-precision analysis of samples to identify new targets and inform therapeutic design. Molecular imaging: Deploying advanced molecular imaging techniques to enhance diagnostic and therapeutic tools. A seed grant program will also be established to fund research projects in the early stages of development. The partnership between Rice and MD Anderson is a testament to how the greater Houston region is committed to advancing the life sciences and biotech industry. The region has seen major new life science developments come online recently, including Levit Green, TMC Helix Park and The Alexandria Center for Advanced Technologies in The Woodlands.   

A new district in The Woodlands hopes to expand on the area’s resurgence in life sciences developments.    Post pandemic, life sciences companies have been establishing facilities in The Woodlands, particularly along Research Forest Drive. And now, Developers Howard Hughes and Vitrian are building upon that growth by adding an additional 86.3 acres for future development, aiming to attract more biomanufacturing companies to the area. The duo has dubbed the area The Woodlands Innovation District.  “This joint venture further diversifies the innovative industries that are represented in The Woodlands with the advancement of life science,” said Jim Carman, President of the Houston Region for The Howard Hughes Corporation in a statement. “The Woodlands continues to attract companies from a variety of industries seeking a highly-skilled talent pool, business-friendly environment, and high quality of life for their employees.”  The district joins the area’s cluster of existing life sciences companies, such as Millipore Sigma and VGXI. Cellipont Bioservices, a San Diego-based cell therapy contract development and manufacturing organization, recently opened a 76,000-square-foot facility in the area. The facility is dedicated to cell therapies and serves as the company's new headquarters.  Cellipont’s move to the greater Houston region, announced in 2022, kickstarted a surge in life sciences activity in The Woodlands. Bionova Scientific, another California-based biotech company, recently announced plans to expand into the area, with a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing and research facility. The company, which produces materials used by cancer-fighting cell therapy companies, is expected to begin operations at the new location in 2025.  Nearby, Nurix Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in San Francisco, has relocated to the Alexandria Center for Advanced Technologies. This 12-acre life sciences campus, formerly the Lexicon Pharmaceuticals site, was inaugurated last year with support from Lexicon’s Founder and CEO and now Nurix's Chief Executive Officer, Arthur Sands. Backed by California-based real estate firm Alexandria Real Estate Equities, the campus is still being built out, with the goal of becoming a smaller version of The Texas Medical Center.   These recent developments have established The Woodlands as a leader in life sciences in the region. According to CBRE’s 2023 U.S. Life Sciences Outlook, The Woodlands accounted for 60% of the Houston region’s life sciences lease transactions in 2022.  The Woodlands Innovation District will encompass five sites, each providing tenant facilities ranging from 40,000 to over 200,000 square feet. These sites will offer build-to-suit shell spaces, anticipated to be move-in ready by Spring 2025.  Learn more about Houston’s life sciences and biotechnology industries.