A James & Esther King Team Science Program (TSP) Grant led by Dr. Patrick Kupelian, Clinical Research Director at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando (MDACCO) in collaboration with University of Central Florida (UCF) researchers is focusing on improving the accuracy of radiotherapy delivered to smoking-induced lung tumor and its surrounding tissues, a task complicated because the tumor moves during breathing. The multidisciplinary team includes Principal Investigator, Dr. Sanford Meeks, Director, Department of Radiation Physics (MDACCO); and Principal Investigators from UCF including Dr. Jannick Rolland (Optics, Computer Science & Engineering) and Dr. Olusegun Ilegbusi (Provost Research Excellence Professor, Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering). There are several Co-Investigators, consultants, and advisors as well. Team members bring a diversity of experiences and expertise to the project and share a rich history of collaborative research.

The Team plans to use the results obtained from the grant’s three sub-projects as the foundation for a NIH program project (P01) grant. The purpose of TSP Grants is to provide support for broad-based, multidisciplinary research programs that will lead to multiple applications for additional funding at the national level in order to continue the research program over the long term.

To view an recent article featured in UCFTODAY, a publication of the University of Central Florida, click on the following link: Hope for Lung Cancer Patients