$2.5 million grant from the 1923 Fund for bladder cancer research

UF Health Cancer Center researchers Sergei Kusmartsev, Ph.D., and William Donelan, Ph.D., have received a $2.5 million grant from the 1923 Fund for bladder cancer research.

Over the next five years, they will use this grant to develop the team and resources needed to continue research on novel immunotherapy treatments for bladder cancer.

William Donelan, Ph.D., and Sergei Kusmartsev, Ph.D., have collaborated on research projects, particularly in the field of cancer immunology. They co-authored a paper titled “Deregulated hyaluronan metabolism in the tumor microenvironment drives cancer inflammation and tumor-associated immune suppression,” published in Frontiers in Immunology in 2022. They are working together on cancer research.

In 2023, they were awarded an American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant to develop novel antibody-drug conjugates for the treatment of bladder cancer. Their research aims to target Hyal2, an enzymatic protein that contributes to tumor-associated immune suppression.

1923 Fund

The 1923 Fund is a charitable organization that provides significant financial support for various initiatives, including research and educational projects. Since its inception, the fund has awarded 42 grants totaling approximately 9.7 million dollars. The organization focuses on funding projects that align with its mission, which includes supporting educational institutions, conservation efforts, and community development.

Notable grantees include the University of Florida Foundation, which received 730,000 dollars for general operating support, Alachua Conservation Trust Inc., awarded 200,000 dollars for general operating expenses, and Oak Hall School, which received 477,186 dollars for general operating support.

The fund’s grants are primarily aimed at enhancing educational opportunities and supporting research that can lead to advancements in various fields, including health and environmental conservation. The ongoing commitment to funding innovative projects underscores the 1923 Fund’s role in fostering growth and development in the communities it serves.

Sergei Kusmartsev

Sergei Kusmartsev, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urology at UF Health Cancer Center. He earned his Ph.D. in Immunology from the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and holds a B.S. in Biophysics from Tomsk State University.

His research interests center on cancer immunology, specifically understanding the mechanisms of cancer-related inflammation and immune suppression within the tumor microenvironment. He is dedicated to developing novel immune-based approaches for treating urologic cancers, with the goal of enhancing anti-tumor immune responses.

His professional background includes extensive postdoctoral training as an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida since September 2006, Senior Research Scientist at Duke University from October 2005 to August 2006, Instructor at the University of South Florida’s H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center from October 2000 to August 2005, Postdoctoral Fellow at Mount Sinai Medical School from February 1999 to October 2000, and Research Fellow at the Tomsk Research Center Laboratory of Experimental Biomodels from October 1991 to December 1998.

Dr. Kusmartsev is particularly interested in investigating the mechanisms behind cancer-related inflammation and immune suppression, focusing on the tumor microenvironment to develop innovative immunotherapy strategies aimed at overcoming immune suppression and boosting anti-tumor immune responses.

William Donelan

William Donelan, Ph.D., is a Research Assistant Scientist at the University of Florida, specifically within the Department of Urology. He holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Florida and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Biochemistry at the same institution.

His research interests primarily focus on kidney stone disease, exploring the underlying mechanisms and potential treatments for this condition. His work includes investigating the biochemical aspects of kidney stones and their formation.In addition to his focus on kidney stones, Dr. Donelan has contributed to various studies related to cancer, particularly examining tumor-associated inflammation and immune responses.

His publications highlight his involvement in research that intersects immunology and cancer biology, including work on hyaluronan metabolism in the tumor microenvironment and its implications for cancer-related inflammation.

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