Scott & White Healthcare in Temple, Texas has received an anonymous gift of $1.5 million that will go toward cancer cell research led by M Karen Newell Rogers, Ph.D, director of the Center for Cell Death and Differentiation at Scott & White and Texas A&M Health Science Center, and lead scientist at Viral Genetics.

“This generous gift will further the advancement of critical cancer research, bridging the gap between research and the delivery of new therapies,” said Dr Newell Rogers, who is a professor in the Department of Surgery at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine and lead scientist for biotech firm Viral Genetics (Pink Sheets: VRAL). “We hope this gift enables us to move rapidly from the laboratory into early-phase clinical trials and new treatments for cancer patients.”

Dr M Karen Newell Rogers will serve as principle research investigator on the proposed research as the Raleigh R. White Jr., now an Endowed Professor, of Surgical Research at Scott & White Healthcare/Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. She will design and oversee experiments and interpret the results of the research plan described for the proposed work.

In addition, the funding will be used to support clinical work. The physicians that will lead the clinical efforts include Dr Ed Childs, Department of Surgery, and Dr Juan Posada, Oncologist in the Department of Medicine. The team is preparing the necessary protocols and applications for “Investigator-initiated” clinical trials, for patients with treatment refractory disease, and once finalized, the team expects to begin enrolling patients within the next several months.

“Scott & White’s team of medical professionals and scientists have created a collaborative environment that brings together top talent to tackle some of the world’s most significant healthcare challenges,” said Haig Keledjian, CEO of Viral Genetics. “We’re excited that their dedication and generosity has enabled this research to move forward.”

Headquartered in San Marino, California, Viral Genetics discovers and develops drug therapies to treat infectious, autoimmune, and immunological deficiency disorders using its targeted peptide technology (TPT), metabolic disruption technology (MDT) and thymus nuclear protein compound (TNP).