James Fells, Sr., PhD, has received funding from the American Cancer Society.
Memphis, Tenn. (October 11, 2012) – James Fells, Sr., PhD, has received funding from the American Cancer Society (ACS) through a postdoctoral fellowship.
The $150,000 award will help further research for his study being conducted in the Department of Physiology at the University of Tennessee Health Science
Center (UTHSC). The funding will be distributed during a three-year period for his study, entitled, “Developing Selective LPA2 Antagonists as Anti-Cancer
Agents.”
Dr. Fells’ research uses computer-aided drug discovery to identify small molecules targeting a protein, LPA2. The goal is to develop LPA2 antagonists for
the treatment of breast cancer. “We plan to use these drugs in combination with conventional treatment to improve therapy,” he said. The fellowship
provides independent funding that allows Dr. Fells to pursue 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 is currently an ACS Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Gabor Tigyi, MD, PhD, who is chairman and Harriet Van Vleet Professor in the UTHSC
Department of Physiology.
Dianna Johnson, PhD, director of the Postdoctoral Office at UTHSC, noted that Dr. Fells’ award from ACS is significant because it represents the success
they would like to see for all postdoctoral students, who are examining 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 Dr. Johnson, who is also a professor in the Department of Ophthalmology.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating
cancer as a major health problem. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., ACS has 12 chartered divisions, more than 900 offices nationwide, and a presence in more
than 5,100 communities. For more information, visit www.cancer.org.
As the flagship statewide academic health system, the mission of the
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
(UTHSC) is to bring the benefits of the health sciences to the achievement and maintenance of human health, with a focus on the citizens of Tennessee and
the region, by pursuing an integrated program of education, research, clinical care, and public service. In 2011, UT Health Science Center celebrated its
centennial: 100 years advancing the future of health care. Offering a broad range of postgraduate training opportunities, the main UTHSC campus is located
in Memphis and includes six colleges: Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy. The UTHSC campus in
Knoxville includes a College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, and an Allied Health Sciences unit. In addition, the UTHSC Chattanooga campus includes a
College of Medicine and an Allied Health Sciences unit. Since its founding in 1911, UTHSC has educated and trained more than 53,000 health care
professionals on campuses and in health care facilities across the state. For more information, visit