The Department of Genetics at UAB Heersink School of Medicine is pleased to announce that Jia Xuas been selected to receive the prestigious Elsa U. Pardee Foundation Award in support of his research project titled “Augment of ER stress by Thapsigargin stimulates anti-tumor immune response in Glioblastoma.” The award will fund innovative work aimed at improving treatment strategies for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant forms of brain cancer.

The Elsa U. Pardee Foundation, established in 1944, is dedicated to funding research that holds promise for cancer prevention, treatment, and cure. The foundation prioritizes innovative projects that have the potential to lead to breakthroughs in cancer care. This award is a significant recognition of Xu's work's scientific merit and translational potential.

Xu’s research focuses on harnessing the body’s immune system to better recognize and attack GBM tumors. While immunotherapy has revolutionized treatment for several cancers, GBM remains largely unresponsive due to its immunosuppressive, or “cold”, tumor microenvironment. His project investigates how a clinically available compound, Thapsigargin, can induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in tumor cells, thereby enhancing immune cell infiltration, particularly cytotoxic T cells and tumor-suppressive macrophages, into the tumor site.

“This award allows us to explore an entirely new mechanism for reactivating immune responses in GBM,” Xu said. “We’re excited about the potential of turning the brain tumor’s environment from immunologically silent to one that can be recognized and attacked by the body’s defenses.”

The study will employ advanced technologies such as ribosome profiling, proteomics, single-cell RNA sequencing, and flow cytometry to dissect the treatment's immunomodulatory effects and evaluate its therapeutic promise in preclinical models. This research could pave the way for more effective, immune-informed therapies for GBM and other cancers that currently evade immune detection.

Xu also expressed gratitude to his collaborator, Jianmei Leavenworth, M.D., for her expertise and support in developing this project. “Her insights into GBM immunology have been invaluable,” Xu noted.

This award marks a major milestone in Xu’s career and underscores UAB’s continued leadership in cutting-edge cancer research.