{"id":613191,"date":"2026-04-29T11:46:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T11:46:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/613191\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T11:46:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T11:46:15","slug":"ut-md-anderson-establishes-center-for-cellular-language-intelligence-thanks-to-10m-sewell-gift","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/613191\/","title":{"rendered":"UT MD Anderson Establishes Center for Cellular Language Intelligence Thanks to $10M Sewell Gift"},"content":{"rendered":"

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center\u00a0today\u00a0announced\u00a0a $10 million gift from Peggy\u00a0and Carl\u00a0Sewell to\u00a0establish\u00a0the\u00a0Center for Cellular Language Intelligence<\/a>,\u00a0a groundbreaking\u00a0new\u00a0research center\u00a0created\u00a0to\u00a0understand the behavior of cancer cells at an unprecedented\u00a0resolution, enabling\u00a0earlier cancer detection,\u00a0smarter prevention and more precise, personalized treatments.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cancer behaves\u00a0as\u00a0a dynamic ecosystem where\u00a0tumor,\u00a0immune\u00a0and support cells constantly interact\u00a0to influence behavior.\u00a0The \u201clanguage\u201d of cancer refers to\u00a0how\u00a0individual\u00a0cancer cells\u00a0and neighboring normal cells\u00a0organize, communicate,\u00a0function\u00a0and adapt\u00a0across space and time.\u00a0Using advanced spatial technologies,\u00a0artificial intelligence (AI)\u00a0and clinical insights,\u00a0the Center for Cellular Language Intelligence will decipher\u00a0this language to\u00a0accelerate the translation of discoveries into\u00a0advances that will improve\u00a0patient care.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis gift\u00a0reflects the Sewells\u2019 continued and enduring commitment to\u00a0supporting\u00a0our mission to\u00a0end cancer,\u201d said Peter WT Pisters, M.D.<\/a>, president of\u00a0UT\u00a0MD Anderson. \u201cThe Center for Cellular Language Intelligence will empower our teams to decode the fundamental mechanisms that shape cancer behavior, positioning\u00a0UT\u00a0MD Anderson at\u00a0the forefront of\u00a0a\u00a0new\u00a0frontier in cancer\u00a0research\u00a0that will\u00a0have\u00a0a truly\u00a0extraordinary\u00a0impact\u00a0on\u00a0advancing next-generation therapies.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Sewells\u2019 gift provides\u00a0critical support for strategic recruitment, infrastructure, and cross-disciplinary capabilities needed to launch the center\u00a0and\u00a0establish\u00a0a path for\u00a0long-term success. These\u00a0resources will help\u00a0build\u00a0the center\u2019s scientific and operational foundation\u00a0by bringing together top minds\u00a0and leading technologies to\u00a0deliver clinical meaningful advances.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This\u00a0support\u00a0brings further momentum to\u00a0UT\u00a0MD\u00a0Anderson\u2019s\u00a0$2.5 billion\u00a0comprehensive philanthropic campaign, \u202fOnly Possible\u202fHere,\u202fThe Campaign to End Cancer,<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0to the institution\u2019s strategic focus on\u202fBreakthroughs.<\/a>\u00a0This historic effort already has raised\u00a0more than\u00a0$2\u00a0billion, accelerating\u202fprogress in\u202fgroundbreaking innovations and transformative advancements\u202fthat define\u202fUT\u00a0MD Anderson.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are grateful for the Sewells\u2019\u00a0longstanding support of research at UT\u202fMD\u202fAnderson,\u201d said Albert Koong, M.D., Ph.D., interim\u00a0chief scientific officer. \u201cThis gift will accelerate the translation of discoveries into clinical trials that have the potential to change the treatment paradigm for cancer therapy for the benefit of our patients.\u201d<\/p>\n

Center will accelerate discovery by decoding the language of cancer
For decades, scientists have studied the genetic and molecular features of tumors, offering important but limited insights. Advances in spatial biology, functional genomics, big data, and AI are making it possible to study cancer at the individual cell level to understand how they are organized within tissues, how they interact with neighboring cells, and how those interactions shape disease progression and treatment response.<\/p>\n

The Center for Cellular Language Intelligence will\u00a0build on these advances to\u00a0unlock\u00a0the\u00a0complex\u00a0communications\u00a0that govern tumor ecosystems. Its research will reveal the principles\u00a0of cellular\u00a0organization\u00a0within tissues and identify signaling\u00a0\u201chubs\u201d\u00a0and\u00a0biological\u00a0programs that influence cancer initiation, progression,\u00a0and\u00a0response\u00a0to therapy. The\u00a0center\u00a0will\u00a0be led\u00a0by\u00a0Linghua Wang, M.D., Ph.D.<\/a>,\u00a0professor\u00a0of\u00a0Genomic Medicine<\/a>,\u00a0associate\u00a0member\u00a0of the\u00a0James P. Allison Institute\u2122<\/a>\u202fand\u00a0focus\u00a0area\u00a0co-lead\u00a0with the\u202fInstitute for Data Science in Oncology<\/a>\u00a0(IDSO).<\/p>\n

Wang will position the center\u00a0as an institutional\u00a0hub,\u00a0collaborating closely with\u00a0UT\u202fMD\u202fAnderson\u2019s\u00a0leading research institutes,\u00a0focused research programs,\u00a0translational\u00a0initiatives\u00a0and the clinical research enterprise to connect enterprise breakthroughs\u00a0across disciplines.\u00a0By linking discovery, causal validation, and clinical translation within a single integrated framework, the center aims to\u00a0accelerate the pace of discovery\u00a0and\u00a0deliver new therapeutic targets, predictive biomarkers,\u00a0and\u00a0prevention strategies\u00a0for patients.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are\u00a0deeply grateful\u00a0for this gift, which\u00a0will allow us to\u00a0build a first-in-class center at\u00a0UT\u202fMD\u202fAnderson\u00a0and an integrated hub for AI-driven discovery and translation,\u201d said Wang. \u201cThis is an\u00a0extraordinary moment in cancer research, as\u00a0advances in spatial biology, functional genomics,\u00a0big data,\u00a0and\u00a0AI\u00a0are giving us the ability to decode cellular\u00a0language\u00a0in ways that were not possible before. We\u00a0can\u00a0now\u00a0harness these tools to\u00a0identify\u00a0key drivers, biomarkers, and therapeutic targets and\u00a0translate\u00a0high-dimensional\u00a0discoveries into\u00a0actionable biological and clinical\u00a0insights that can\u00a0make a\u00a0real\u00a0difference for our patients.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Wang\u00a0is an internationally recognized leader in single-cell and spatial biology, computational oncology,\u00a0tumor cell\u00a0plasticity\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0tumor microenvironment.\u00a0Her\u00a0laboratory\u00a0has\u00a0developed\u00a0computational tools\u00a0and\u00a0AI-enabled\u00a0analytical\u00a0frameworks\u00a0and generated\u00a0major discoveries that have advanced understanding of tumor-immune interactions, therapy response and resistance, and biomarker\u00a0development.\u00a0The Wang\u00a0Laboratory<\/a>\u00a0already has generated\u00a0impactful findings<\/a>\u00a0that are\u00a0helping to shape\u00a0new strategies for\u00a0precision cancer care and\u00a0therapeutic translation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A visionary investment from dedicated stewards of cancer research
For more than four decades, Peggy and Carl Sewell have dedicated their time, talent and leadership to advancing UT MD Anderson\u2019s mission. Based in Dallas, the civic-minded couple have an extensive history of supporting charitable causes across the state and nation, many involving higher education and health care. Carl is the longtime chair of Sewell Automotive Companies, where Peggy also serves in the roles of officer and board member. The organization is a national leader in the automotive industry.<\/p>\n

Peggy\u00a0joined\u00a0UT MD Anderson\u2019s\u00a0Board of Visitors<\/a>\u00a0in 1983,\u00a0for which she\u00a0serves\u00a0as a Life Member, a\u00a0recognition bestowed\u00a0upon her in 2024\u00a0for her years of service to the institution.\u00a0The\u00a0Sewells\u2019\u00a0support is further\u00a0evident\u00a0in\u00a0the establishment of the Sewell Family Distinguished University Chair\u00a0in honor of\u00a0the\u00a0institution\u2019s Chief Scientific Officer.\u00a0Peggy\u2019s extensive\u00a0participation\u00a0across various committees, as well as\u00a0the\u00a0couple\u2019s\u00a0shared\u00a0role\u00a0in\u00a0shaping some of\u00a0the institution\u2019s\u00a0most successful fundraising initiatives,\u00a0further underscores\u00a0the immense and lasting impact of their\u00a0support.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re honored we could help establish this new center given the tremendous opportunities for discovery, innovation and multidisciplinary collaboration it will support,\u201d Peggy said. \u201cAt the convergence of UT MD Anderson\u2019s existing institutes and strategic initiatives, the Center for Cellular Language Intelligence will accelerate advances in care and treatments, bringing us closer to a cure.”<\/p>\n

Peggy\u00a0has been\u00a0one of the key\u00a0driving\u00a0forces\u00a0behind\u00a0A Conversation With a Living Legend\u00ae<\/a>, helping propel the signature series to more than $61\u00a0million raised since its launch in 1990.\u00a0Together with Carl, she has\u00a0worked to\u00a0cultivate strong engagement for the annual\u00a0Making Cancer History\u00ae<\/a>\u00a0seminar series\u00a0and summer programs in Aspen, Colorado. Their generosity has strengthened\u00a0UT\u202fMD\u202fAnderson across numerous\u00a0fronts, supporting biomedical imaging, research innovation\u00a0and essential capital projects.<\/p>\n

\u201cUT MD Anderson stands for excellence in every way, and what\u2019s happening there is going to change the world,\u201d Carl said. \u201cWe are pleased to support such an impactful institution and this exciting\u00a0center in its efforts\u00a0to\u00a0innovate cancer research.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center\u00a0today\u00a0announced\u00a0a $10 million gift from Peggy\u00a0and Carl\u00a0Sewell to\u00a0establish\u00a0the\u00a0Center for Cellular Language…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":613192,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[13960,96451,266221,97,252,253,266220],"class_list":["post-613191","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health-care","tag-donors","tag-genomic-medicine","tag-genomics-research","tag-health","tag-health-care","tag-healthcare","tag-institute-for-data-science-in-oncology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/613191","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=613191"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/613191\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/613192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=613191"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=613191"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=613191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}