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UT HEALTH

BRCA Expert, Patrick Sung, D.Phil.,

Joins UTHSA

By William L. Henrich, MD, MACP, President, UT Health San Antonio, Professor of Medicine

lead to new ways to treat them and possibly He is the first faculty member in UT Health
prevent their occurrence in the first place. San Antonio history to capture this presti-
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are tumor suppres- gious NCI award, which is bestowed only
sor genes. When these genes are mutated, upon researchers with august track records,
the loss of function leads to cancer. Prima- elite-level scientific impact, and ascending ca-
rily known for increasing risk of breast can- reer trajectories and research goals. The
cer in women, BRCA1 and BRCA2 award, which began Sept. 9, will provide $6.1
mutations also are associated with ovarian million through 2026. Dr. Sung also just re-
cancer, prostate and breast cancer in men, ceived a $1.8 million Faculty STARs Award
and a childhood cancer called neuroblas- from The University of Texas System.
toma. A related gene is associated with ag- STARs stands for Science and Technology
gressive pancreatic cancer. Acquisition and Retention.
Dr. Sung’s laboratory conquered a major The NCI Outstanding Investigator Award
America’s greatest research minds are hot technical challenge over several years—a feat encourages risk taking. It provides freedom
commodities—the marketplace for their that eluded all other labs worldwide. Using for an established investigator to come up
services is fiercely competitive. A pioneering unique insect cell culture systems, the scien- with provocative ideas—paths of inquiry
life sciences researcher who pushes the enve- tists were able to prompt the BRCA1 and where the chances of being wrong are actu-
lope against disease can be a cornerstone of BRCA2 genes to make their proteins. These ally quite high, but also where, if the scientist
scientific attainment for any city, but espe- are very elaborate human BRCA proteins ex- is right, the impact will be tremendous.
cially our city, bolstering San Antonio’s posi- pressed in insect cells. Now that this technical Dr. Sung’s decision to leave the Northeast
tion as a leader of science and medicine. And hurdle is overcome, the Sung lab is poised to and return to South Texas was indicative of
the researcher’s discoveries have the potential figure out how these tumor suppressor pro- San Antonio’s growing attractiveness to the
to be translated into tomorrow’s therapies. teins function. nation’s top researchers. He joins many
One of San Antonio’s recently recruited Very few groups in the world are able to other excellent scientists in San Antonio, a
stars, biochemist Patrick Sung, D.Phil., is conduct this type of investigation. Like me- fact that contributed to his decision to re-
making inroads into understanding the biol- chanics taking an engine apart and putting turn. We are glad to have in our fold this
ogy of inherited gene mutations that greatly it back together, the team is analyzing the outstanding biochemist whose discoveries
increase the risk of cancer formation in both sequence of events that occur when a promise to push the envelope in treating
women and men. BRCA mutation leads to cancer initiation BRCA-deficient cancers.
Dr. Sung, a leading expert on BRCA1 and and progression.
BRCA2 cancer biology, joined UT Health Dr. Sung brought talented researchers William L. Henrich,
San Antonio in 2019 from Yale, where he was with him, and since coming to San Antonio, M.D., MACP, is president
a professor of molecular biophysics and bio- the team in July received a $3.75 million of UT Health San Anto-
chemistry, therapeutic radiology and epidemi- translational grant from the Gray Founda- nio and professor of medi-
ology. A $6 million grant from the Cancer tion of New York to focus on drug resist- cine in the university’s Joe R.
Prevention and Research Institute of Texas ance in BRCA-deficient tumors. UT Health and Teresa Lozano Long
(CPRIT) supported his recruitment. Dr. Sung San Antonio is the lead institution in a col- School of Medicine. With
was actually re-recruited back to Texas; he laborative effort with the Dana-Farber Can- missions of teaching, re-
and his wife formerly lived in Houston and cer Center in Boston and the University of search, healing and community engagement, UT
San Antonio. Pennsylvania. Health San Antonio is one of the country’s leading
Dr. Sung is an expert in the molecular This fall, Dr. Sung was selected to receive health sciences universities. www.UTHealthSA.org.
mechanisms by which BRCA1 and BRCA2 a highly competitive National Cancer Insti- Dr. Henrich is a member of the Bexar County Med-
mutations give rise to cancers, which could tute (NCI) Outstanding Investigator Award. ical Society.

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