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Research Programs

Drug Discovery, Delivery and Experimental Therapeutics

It takes a community of researchers, physicians, patients and support staff to discover and develop new ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer. The Drug Discovery, Delivery and Experimental Therapeutics research program at The University of Kansas Cancer Center integrates a broad range of research areas that contribute to the discovery of new cancer therapeutic agents as well as novel approaches to effective drug delivery; the development of drug products and diagnostics for the treatment and prevention of cancer; and the evaluation of these medical innovations in hypothesis-driven experimental therapeutics trials. The Drug Discovery, Delivery and Experimental Therapeutics research program is organized around three themes: 

  1. Drug discovery and delivery
  2. Drug and diagnostic development
  3. Evaluation of new cancer treatment strategies in clinical trials. 

The program forms and drives project teams, led by principal investigators and project managers, comprised of basic, translational, and clinical scientists representing multiple disciplines. To bring promising new cancer treatments and diagnostics to patients, members of the Drug Discovery, Delivery and Experimental Therapeutics research program collaborate with industry, academia, government and disease philanthropy partners.

The Drug Discovery, Delivery and Experimental Therapeutics research program is led by Dan Dixon, PhD, Priyanka Sharma, MD, and John Taylor, MD, MS.

Bench to Bedside: Cancer Drugs - From the Lab to the Patient's Bedside

Have you ever wondered how drugs make it from the laboratory into your medicine cabinet? On this episode of #BenchToBedside we will dig deep into how each drug gets its start, after decades of research and testing.

Learn more

The Tie Between Taste Bud Receptors and Colorectal Cancer

While taste changes are a common side effect of chemotherapy, researchers are investigating if bitter taste in the mouth may actually precede a cancer diagnosis.

A New Tool in the Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer

By marrying technology with cancer biology, the KU Cancer Center team has developed novel lab-on-a-chip devices that detect exosomes.

Taylor Awarded Grant for Bladder Cancer Research

The $300,000 grant will fund efforts to explore the finding that people with Down Syndrome are less likely to develop and die from solid tumors, such as bladder cancer. 

Interested in becoming a cancer center member? 

To apply, click here. Applications are accepted throughout the year. Contact Lisa Harlan-Williams at lharlan-williams@kumc.edu for more information regarding membership.

Related links

Cancer Biology
Cancer Prevention & Control
Drug Discovery, Delivery & Experimental Therapeutics
To request an appointment, call 844-323-1227.